Federation of Khasi States wants meeting with UDP
SHILLONG: The Federation of Khasi States on Monday criticised the comments of UDP leader Bindo M. Lanong on Instrument of Accession (IOA) and Annexed Agreement (AA).
Earlier, the UDP leader said that the IOA and AA is not only infructuous but an issue which is long dead and buried left only for historical purpose.
In a letter addressed to UDP leader Jemino Mawthoh, the chairman of federation, John Kharshiing said that Lanong has no knowledge about the history of the IOA and AA and urged the party to clarify if this is the view and stand of the party on IOA and AA or it is Lanong’s personal view.
“The treaty of Instrument of Accession and Annexed Agreement signed and accepted by the Government of India and the Federation of Khasi States is not long dead and buried for historical purpose”, the federation reiterated.
Lashing out at the senior party leader’s statement, the federation further said that the Khasi States agreed to sign the Instrument of Accession and Annexed Agreement on December 15, 1947 after a prolonged discussion with the Governor of Assam assuring them that this agreement would be honoured and would protect the customary laws and social rights of the Khasi States.
“Hence Section 3 of the IOA states thus, ‘Subject to the provisions of the Annexed Agreement (which shall be regarded as part of this Instrument of Accession), we accept that the Dominion Legislature may make laws for the Khasi States in respect of any matter. This is the important condition under the IOA which makes the accession of the Khasi States conditional and subject always to the Annexed Agreement”, the letter said.
This was a Standstill Arrangement and the Centre and the state are yet to correct the anomaly with the Federation of Khasi States, the federation said.
Considering the importance attached to the issue by “U Khun u Hajar” the Federation of Khasi States requested Mawthoh for a meeting with the office bearers of the UDP on the matter to have a clarity as the issue has raised concerns and questions as to the stand of the UDP in protecting the interest of the indigenous Khasi, Jaintia and Garo people.
Kharshiing said while all 540 out of the 565 odd princely states of India signed the Instruments of Accession and Instruments of Merger thereby losing all their identity, the twenty five Khasi States both individually and collectively as the Federation of Khasi states did not sign the instrument of merger and it is for this reason that the constitutional anomaly exists till date within the Constitution where the words “Khasi States” find mention in the First Schedule of the Constitution of India.
He also pointed out that on January 13,1948, the Dorbar Hima (Parliament) of Nongstoin in accordance with Section 7 of the Indian Independence Act 1947 declared Nongstoin State an Independent Country, after which the Assistant Political Officer from Shillong along with a platoon of Assam Rifle soldiers rushed to Nongstoin on horseback and placed the Syiem of Nongstoin under house arrest, who after threat and intimidation signed the conditional Instrument of Accession with Agreement on March 19, 1948.