SHILLONG: Seeking to garner more support for its campaign, John F Kharshiing, Co-Chairman of the Grand Council of Chiefs of Meghalaya, on Sunday met Ahmed Hassan, Member, Parliamentary Standing Committee, Social Justice and Empowerment, in Kolkata and handed over a copy of the Instrument of Accession (IOA) and Annexed Agreement accepted and signed by the Indian Union and the 25 Khasi States on 17 August 1948.
During the meeting, Hassan expressed surprise on learning of the non-fulfillment of the IOA treaty terms in the last 66 years.
He was also amazed to know that the Khasi States had only acceded and had not signed the Instrument of Merger, while all the erstwhile Indian rulers had acceded and sign the merger treaty with the Government of India.
Hassan further advised Kharshiing to petition the Committee to enable them to examine the matter in depth and to seek resolution to the issue.
The Rajya Sabha MP further advised the chiefs of the Khasi States to visit New Delhi and try to circulate as much information as possible as many members of parliament were unaware of this decades-old Constitutional anomaly.
He assured all possible assistance to the Khasi States in following up the matter with the Government of India and the Parliament Standing Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment.
