Shillong, July 23: The signing of the Instrument of Accession and Annexed Agreement (IOA & AA) has attain 73 years ago a historic meeting with Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the first Home Minister then called the Ministry of States, on 1st January 1948 in Shillong with the Khasi Chiefs.
The then Home Minister made a visit to fully understand the unique history of the Khasi(s) and had a detailed meeting with the Syiem, Lyngdoh, Sirdar, Wahadar, and Dolloi on the reasons for their refusal to sign the Instrument of Merger and agreement to sign only the conditional treaty Instrument of Accession and Annexed Agreement which was to remain for a period of two years.
After this meeting the Governor of Assam initiated a series of meetings beginning from 1947, 1948 up 1949 with the rulers of the Khasi States and the Federation of Khasi States.It is ironic that even after 73 years from 1 January 1948 – 24 July 2021 as can be chronicled till today the visit of the Union Home Minister, Ministry of Home Affairs.
The Government of India, and issues at the table reflect the unfulfilled National solemn commitments till today as agreed in the treaty terms of the Instrument of Accession and Annexed Agreement signed and accepted by Governor General of India, Shri. C Rajagopalachari, and the Federation of Khasi States on 17 August 1948, which was one year after Indian Independence.
The Federation of Khasi States, have democratically submitted numerous petitions to the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, Delhi. A decade ago the Meghalaya Khasi, Jaintia and Garo Chiefs petitioned the National Commission for Review of the Working of the Constitution (NCRWC) in 2001 in New Delhi.
It is notable that Chiefs of the Khasi States have also met and petitioned nine(9) former Prime Ministers. Delegations from the Federation of Khasi States, the Grand Council of Chiefs of Meghalaya, Council of Nokmas, Council of Dolloi, personally met and petitioned the President of India on October 2013 in Shillong.
Another three memorandums have been submitted to the present Prime Minister, including one handed personally by Paiem Phrester Manik Syiemlieh, Syiem Hima Nongkhlaw, to the Prime Minister on 28 May 2016 before the Sacred Forest of Mawphlang Lyngdohship.
The numerous Memorandums now filling the many shelves and boxes in the office of the Khasi States have also seen responses from the Parliamentary Committees, the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) April 2012.
The National Human Rights Commission (Law Division), 2012, Parliamentary Committees, all have sought views and opinions from the Government of Meghalaya Ministry of Home Affairs, since 2002, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017 etc. Unfortunately, the ADCs and the State Governments have not paid any attention to these issues.
To help clarify the many questions from the youths of today we have recently released the book the Federation of Khasi States – History Epistemology and Politics from 1773 upto 2017 so as to enable the political parties, leaders, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) to have a clarity on the unique history and rights of the Khasi.
Mr John Kharshiing said that they do sincerely hope our leaders representatives of the State of Meghalaya especially the Khasi and Jaintia leaders place the issue of non fulfillment of the Instrument of Accession and Annexed Agreement (IOA & AA) as one of the agenda for discussions with the proposed meeting with the Union Home Minister, Ministry of Home Affairs.
Mr John said that Government of India during his upcoming visit to Shillong as the treaty terms relate and reflect the unique rights of the Khasi people on Khasi territory (boundary), forest, land and water rights and revenue derived therefrom, Judicial, representation in the Assembly/Parliament, and the arrangements on Legislation.
Representatives from The Federation of Khasi States is willing to assit the State Government in its negotiations with all the historical facts for the above.
The non fulfillment of the treaty Agreements under the Instrument of Accession and the onslaught conflict of central legislation with customary rights of the First Nations Khasi people has led to the continued conflict and struggle that continues to erupt from time to time for decades.
The box full of petitions and correspondence between the Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt of India and the Federation of Khasi States, reveals the urgent need for the Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt of India, to constitute a special committee to make effect the treaty terms of the Annexed Agreement and the Instrument of Accession signed and accepted by the Government of India and the Khasi Chiefs.
