SHILLONG: 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 recently has expressed their sincere appreciation to Dr Rameshwar Oraon, Chairman, National Commisison for Scheduled Tribe, for his prompt decision to write to Sushil Kumar S Shinde, Minister for Home Affairs through a Demi Official letter forwarding the representation from the Council of Chiefs of Meghalaya to MHA for appropriate action.
The decision by the Chairman, NCST was made after a detailed discussion with a delegation of eight Chiefs in New Delhi.
It may be recalled that Dr Balajied S Syiem, Syiem of Hima Khyrim and 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, in 2010, regarding the fulfillment of the Instrument of Accession and Annexed Agreement of 17 August 1948.
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.
It may be mentioned that on January 3, the tribal chiefs handed over important documents to the NCST chairman including a demi official letter dated October 13, 1947, from former Prime Minister late Jawaharlal Nehru urging the then Deputy Prime Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, “to treat the case of the 25 Khasi States on a separate basis” and to favourably consider the agreement entered into between the Khasi States and the then Governor of Assam on behalf of the Dominion of India which was finally accepted by the Governor General of India on August 17, 1948.
