SHILLONG: The KHADC chief executive member, PN Syiem, on Friday changed his stand on a single memorandum on the amendments to the Sixth Schedule and said the Meghalaya Indigenous Tribal Constitutional Rights Movement (MITCRM) can go ahead and submit its views.
MITCRM has been constituted by several NGOs, including the Synjuk ki Nongsynshar Shnong ka Bri u Hynniewtrep. It is in the final stage of submitting the memorandum with regard to the proposed amendment to the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.
Syiem, during a meeting on Tuesday, had called for a single memorandum from all stakeholders highlighting their concerns over the matter.
However, after meeting the stakeholders, including MITCRM, Syiem told reporters that it can go ahead with submitting their memorandum as they are in the final stage.
He also added that MITCRM should send copies of the memorandum to the autonomous district councils and the state government so that the points raised by them can be examined and included in the district councils’ memorandum.
Assuring that all views would be incorporated in the council’s proposal to the Centre and the state government, Syiem said, “To compile a solid memorandum from all the ADCs will take some more time so we feel that MITCRM can go ahead with submitting the memorandum.”
Stating that other NGOs have also prepared memoranda, he said, “All memoranda drafted should be in line with what has been proposed by the three ADCs of Garo, Jaintia and Khasi Hills.”
Syiem stated that in the next meeting, the stakeholders will discuss the draft proposed amendment, suggestions and views so that a memorandum can be prepared at the level of the district council.
“We have come to the conclusion that we will provide copies to the respective NGOs and ADCs so that next time we meet, we will see that all points raised by different stakeholders are included,” he added.
All the three ADCs will be present to analyse their views and suggestions.
Commenting on the Annexed Agreement (AA) and its connection with the Sixth Schedule, Syiem said, “When we discuss Sixth Schedule, it means we discuss on what is available in the AA, we should stick to discussion on the Sixth Schedule.”
Row over Instrument of Accession
John F Kharshiing, Chairman, Ka Dorbar ki Khlieh Nongsynshar and spokesperson of the Federation of Khasi States, attended the meeting called by Syiem that ended on a bitter note.
In a press statement issued here, Kharshiing said they queried on the silence of the KHADC to reply to the Federation of Khasi States’ memorandum on the contentious issue of the Instrument of Accession (IOA) and AA.
The memorandum was sent by the Centre in July 2012 to the state government, which in turn was sent to the KHADC on August 3, 2012.
Kharshiing alleged that the CEM prevented him from speaking about the Federation of Khasi States by stating it should come from chiefs and Lyngdoh.
Kharshiing responded by saying he attended the meeting as Chairman of Dorbar ki Khlieh Nongsynshar, Ri Hynniewtrep and as spokesperson, Federation of Khasi States, under the group MITCRM.
He differed from Syiem who stated that the source of the Sixth Schedule is IOA and AA and according to Kharshiing it is a blunder to say so.
“IOA and AA have strong provisions as it will allow the Assembly of Hima Khasi States and will bar the implementation of central laws,” he said.
