Shillong, Feb 27: The Jaiñtia National Council (JNC) Central Executive Committee, on behalf of the entire Jaiñtia (Pnar) community of Meghalaya, hereby issues this press statement to CONDEMN in the strongest possible terms the reckless, irresponsible, and politically motivated statement made by MLA Shri. Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit, Chief of the Voice of the People Party, in his remarks on the state reservation policy, wherein he deliberately and unconscionably referred to the community as only “KHASI” blatantly, shamelessly, and completely erasing the “Jaintia ” from the very policy that is meant to protect and serve us.
“We, the JNC Central Executive Committee, also extend our full and unreserved support to the Deputy Chief Minister Shri. Sniawbhalang Dhar, who boldly and rightfully rejected MLA Basaiawmoit’s flawed statement, affirming what every Jaiñtia already knows, that the correct and only acceptable reference in all matters of reservation policy and governance of this state is “Khasi-Jaintia ” not a truncated, politically convenient half-truth.
The Jaiñtia people the majority Pnar, the the children of “Ynñiawtrep Ynñiawwasa” are not a footnote. We are not a sub-clause. We are not an afterthought to be remembered only when votes are needed and forgotten when policies are written.
The JNC asked “when was it officially and legally declared that this community is to be referred to only as “Khasi” erasing Jaiñtia? We challenge you to produce a single official document, a single constitutional provision, a single legislative record that justifies your erasure of our name from the reservation discourse”.
The Constitution of India, under the Scheduled Tribes list for Meghalaya, recognizes “Khasi” and “Jaintia” as distinct tribal communities. This is not their opinion this is “the law of the land”. For a sitting MLA, a supposed leader of the people, to stand before the public and collapse two constitutionally distinct communities into one is not just ignorance “it is a constitutional offence against the Jaiñtia people.”
The JNC stated “ The history you chose to ignore the history that will not be silenced you speak as though the Jaiñtia do not exist. Let us remind you and remind the whole world of who we are”.
The “Jaiñtia Kingdom” is one of the most ancient, powerful, and historically documented kingdoms of Northeast India. Established as early as “600 AD”, it was a sovereign, independent kingdom that extended from the Jaiñtia Hills across the plains to the Surma River, into what is today Sylhet, Bangladesh, a kingdom so vast and powerful that it commanded the entire eastern stretch of this region for over a thousand years. This was not a village. This was not a sub-division. “This was a kingdom.”
The Jaiñtia Kingdom was formed through the amalgamation of the “Jayanti Kingdom” of the plains a realm so ancient it is referenced as the “Sutnga Kingdom” of the hills. The rulers of this great kingdom is the Pnar.
“When the State of Meghalaya was established in 1972, the Government of India recognized our distinct identity by establishing the Jaiñtia Hills District, so as the JHADC, a recognition that we exist, that our name must be on the map, that our people cannot be made invisible”.So we say to MLA Basaiawmoit, History did not erase us. The Constitution did not erase us. The Government of India did not erase us. So who are you?”
“To unify, since when were we divided MLA Basaiawmoit reportedly speaks of wanting to “unify” our communities. We respond with absolute clarity, ” there is nothing to unify because we were never divided”
“We the Khasi and the Jaiñtia are, and have always been, one people under the sacred bond of “Hynniewtrep” the Children of the Seven Huts. From the time of our great-grandparents to this day, we have walked together, struggled together, and spoken as one under the name “Khasi-Jaiñtia”. Our unity is not a political project. It is not a campaign slogan. It is “our identity, our blood, our ancestral covenant.”
If there is division, look no further than the politicians who use our names selectively for their own benefit. “The division lives in your politics” not in our hearts. You do not get to manufacture a crisis of division and then appoint yourself as the solution. That is not leadership, that is manipulation.
“We are Hynñiewtrep. We were always one. “Do not INSULT our unity by pretending to create it.” The JNC Central Executive Committee has watched with deep concern as certain political figures reduce the rich, complex, and ancient identity of our communities into convenient buzzwords to be deployed during election seasons and discarded in policy rooms. ” Do not use our communities just for your political gain”.
“It appears that “For the sake of his own political gain, bah Ardent is willing to erase our Jaiñtia Hills Autonomous District Council in the future.” We will never allow this to happen. We call upon all Members of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly to stand on the right side of history”.
As Deputy Chief Minister Shri. Sniawbhalang Dhar has done, and ensure that the Jaiñtia people are never again rendered invisible in the policies that govern our lives. We see it. We name it. And we reject it. Conclude Shri. Wanshwa Suting, General Secretary JNC Central Executive Committee in the press statement issued to the media house today.
