Shillong, Oct 18: We recieved a call this evening (17th Oct 2013 ) from PS to Hon’ble President of India, informing us that Hon’ble Shri. Pranab Mukherjee, President of India, has consented to the request from the Grand Council of Chiefs of Meghalaya to meet a delegation of Chiefs to present the Hon’ble President of India a memorandum in Raj Bhavan, Shillong on 21st October 2013 at 5.oo pm, during his two day visit to Meghalaya
A thirty member delegation led by Shri. John F Kharshiing, Co-Chairman, Meghalaya State Planning Board, Chairman, The Grand Council of Chiefs of Meghalaya, &Spokesperson, Federation of Khasi States, comprising of Syiem, Lyngdoh, Sirdar, Dolloi, and Nokma Chiefs will draw the attention of the President of India, to the White Paper on Indian States, placed before Parliament by Sardar Valabhbhai Patel, the then Dy PM, i/c Ministry of States (Now known as Ministry of Home). The White Paper refers to the special treaty between the 25 Khasi States and the Dominion of India, and which was accepted and signed by the first Governor General of India of free India, Shri. C Rajagopalachari, on 17th Aug 1948.
The difference between the accession of the Khasi States with the dominion and the erstwhile Indian Princely States was that while the latter merged with the neighbouring States or constituted separate States with the Indian Union by means of the Instrument of Merger and the process of proclamation, Khasi States retained their identity within the provision of the Indian Constitution.
On the occasion of the 4th Peoples Parliament, on 13th February 2013, held at Mairang, Hima Nongkhlaw Syiemship, the Grand Council of Chiefs of Meghalaya, released very important extracts of the White Paper on Indian States, which were placed by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, former Deputy Prime Minister, i/c Ministry of States, before the Constituent Assembly during July 1948 & 1949.
In response to our memorandum, The National Commission on Human Rights, (NHRC) a constitutional body under Article 339 of the Constitution of India replied in 2012 that the matter of the Instrument of Accession was within the ‘Legislative competence of Parliament’. and directed the Chiefs to approach Government of India.
After detailed hearing the National Commission for Schedule Tribes(NCST), a constitutional body under Article 338A of the Constitution of India, issued a directive on 26 April 2012, to the Ministry for Tribal Affairs, Govt of India to address the constitutional anomaly.
A delegation from the Grand Council of Chiefs of Meghalaya recently met UPA & NAC, Chairperson, Smt. Sonia Gandhi, and Shri. V Kishore Chandra Deo, Union Minister for Tribal Affairs, Govt of India personally on 7th and 9th June 2012, to submit similar Memorandums.
In the enthusiasm generated by the attainment of freedom and the promulgation for the Constitution, the provisions of the Annexed Agreements have been overlooked.
The Chiefs will submit a memorandum for constitutional space through a special Thirteen Schedule for a seperate Council for the Khasi States, the Dolloi, and the Concil of Nokmas within the Constitution of India. (SP News)
