Shillong, Jan 08: The Chairman, of the Grand Council of Chiefs of Meghalaya, Mr John Kharshiing today has written to the Chief Minister Mr Cornad K Sangma and to the KHADC Chief Executive member Mr HS Shylla asking them to call for the special session to discuss on the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016, according to the The Instrument of Accession and Annexed Agreement 17 Aug 1947.
In the letter to the Chief Minister Mr John Kharshiing point out that,The Federation of Khasi States had sent a memo to Hon’ble Prime Minister of India on 4th August 2018 expressing serious concerns on the outcome of the NRC process in Assam and urging the Government of India to extend the Assam Accord to Meghalaya as it was under the composite State of Assam.
Shockingly in total disregard to the sentiments of the people of North East particularly to the treaty agreement between Government of India and Khasi States, the Instrument of Accession the Federation of Khasi States the Union Cabinet of India recently has instead recommended and introduced the amendment of the Citizenship Amendment Bill 2018 in the Lok Sabha, in violation and in conflict with Assam Accord – Memorandum of Settlement 15 August 1985 and IOA & AA 17 August 1947.
The Indigenous Khasi, Jaintia and Garo people have traditional customary, residence and citizenship laws which till date has not been included or been defined within the Constitution of India till date. Infact the recent proposed Sixth Scheduled Amendments were meant to formally recognise the traditional Institutions of Meghalaya, and hence the proposed Citizenship Amendment Bill 2016 must be exempted from the Khasi States and Meghalaya.
The Grand Council of Chiefs of Meghalaya, and Spokesperson urge your Government to consider convening an emergent special session of the Meghalaya Assembly to pass resolutions to, express opposition of the State Government of Meghalaya, against the Citizenship Amendment Bill 2016.
To recommend to the Union Government the incorporation of the Instrument of Accession and Annexed Agreement 17 August 1948, under Article 370 so as to have a permanent protection clause for the Khasi, Jaintia and Garo people against this Citizenship Amendment Bill 2016 in compliance of the treaty terms.
To urge the Hon’ble President of India to direct the Union Ministry of Home Affairs to take action on the directives from the NCST and to make effect the treaty terms of the IOA & AA, which were signed and accepted by the Govt of India on 17 Aug 1948.
The same letter was also sent to the Chief Executive member of the KHADC Mr HS Shylla urging the KHADC to convince special session to urge the State Government of Meghalaya, to pass resolution in the Assembly, to oppose the Citizenship Amendment Bill 2018.
The State Government to recommend to the Union Government the incorporation of the Instrument of Accession and Annexed Agreement 17 August 1948, under Article 370 so as to have a permanent protection clause for the Khasi, Jaintia and Garo people against this Citizenship Amendment Bill 2018 in compliance of the treaty terms.
To urge the President to direct the Union Ministry of Home Affairs to make effect the treaty terms of the IOA & AA, signed and accepted by the Govt of India on 17 Aug 1948.
