Shillong, Jan 16: The Grand Council of Chiefs of Meghalaya comprising of ( Federation of Khasi States, Ka Dorbar Ki Khlieh Nongsynshar Ka Ri Hynniewtrep, The Council of Dolloi, and The Council of Nokma) which met on 13th Jan 2014, expressed their sincere appreciation to Dr Rameshwar Oraon, Chairman, NCST, Govt of India, for his promt decision to write to Shri. Sushil Kumar S. Shinde, Minister for Home Affiars, Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt of India, through a Demi Official letter no D.O.CP/NCST/Meghalaya/
The decision by the Chairman, NCST was made after a detailed discussion with a delegation of eight Chiefs on 3rd Jan 2014 in his official chambers in New Delhi.
It may be recalled that Dr Balajied S Syiem, Syiem of Hima Khyrim and Bah John F Kharshiing, Chairman, Grand Council of Chiefs of Meghalaya; Chairman, Ka Dorbar Ki Khlieh Nongsynshar Ka Ri Hynniewtrep, and Spokesperson, Federation of Khasi States, and other Elders of the Hima Khyrim (Kingdom) Syiemship, on behalf of the Chiefs had submitted representation to the Vice-Chairman, NCST during their visit to Smit, Shillong, on 20th March 2010, regarding the fulfillment of the Instrument of Accession and Annexed Agreement of 17 August 1948.
An official meeting and hearing was conducted by NCST on 5th May 2011, after which NCST issued a directive to Secretary, Ministry of Tribal Affairs, No. BJFK/Service(Inclusion) Meghalaya/2012/ RU-II dated 26 April 2012,(Annexure -I). The Federation of Khasi States, approached the NHRC and their NHRC Law Division issued a letter Case No. 14/15/2/2012 Dt: 16 June 2012, from National Human Rights Commission (Law Div) stating that this matter can be resolved by Parliament as it was within their legislative competence.
The Council of Chiefs had informed Chairman, NCST that earlier a delegation of 20 Chiefs from Meghalaya met Hon’ble Shri. V Kishore Chandra Deo, MP, Union Minister of Tribal Affairs, and also Hon’ble Smt. Sonia Gandhi, MP, Chairperson, National Advisory Council on 7th and 9th June 2012. And similarly on 21st October 2013, a delegation of 24 Chiefs met and submitted a similar Memorandum to Hon’ble President of India Shri. Pranab Mukherjee, during his recent visit to Shillong.
A Demi Official letter Dated 13th October 1947, from former Prime Minister Shri Jawaharlal Nehru to former Dy Prime Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, on the agreement with the Khasi States along with the White Paper on Indian States – published 1950 – Khasi States was handed over to the Chairman NCST.
The delegation of Chiefs urged the Chairman, National Commission for Schedule Tribes to intervene so that the genuine voice of the tribal governing institutions of the Chiefs with only (2 Lok Sabha MPs) are heard by the Central Authorities.
The Chiefs informed the Chairman, NCST that the Chiefs/Rulers of the Khasi States (Federation of Khasi States) entered into an agreement through the Instrument of Accession and Annexed Agreement 17th August 1948, with the then Dominion of India, however this important National Commitment is yet to be concluded even after 66 years (1948-2014) of Indian Independence, by Indian Parliament.
On receiving this copy of letter sent to the Union Home Minister, MHA, Govt of India, a delegation of Chiefs met Dr Mukul Sangma, Chief Minister Meghalaya on 13th Jan 2014, and handed over a copy of the letter for his intervention. The Chiefs informed the Chief Minister that earlier NCRWC, in trying to address the IOA & AA had recommended allocating 5 MDC seats specifically for the Khasi, Jaintia and Garo Chiefs, in the three ADCs, however the Grand Council of Chiefs are unanimous that as per the IOA & AA the Central Government should constitute a separate Federal or Regional Council for the Tribal Governing Institutions. The Chief Minister was informed that the KHADC has in earlier discussions with the Federation of Khasi States offered to propose the constitution of a Partyless Regional Council specifically for the representatives of the Dorbar Shnong, Dorbar Raid and Dorbar Hima, and that the draft of the proposal is under preparation.
To follow up on this latest letter from the Chairman NCST, The Federation of Khasi States, resolved to send a delegation to seek appointment and meet with Union Minister for Home Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, to press for early resolution of this national commitment and for early conclusion of the issues and treaties of the Khasi States, within the Constitution of India.(SP News)
