SHILLONG, May 21: The Khasi department of St Edmund’s College on Tuesday organised a special lecture on the Hima Khasi and the Instrument of Accession (IOA) at the college auditorium.
The lecture was delivered by the chairman of the Grand Council of Chiefs and adviser to the Federation of the Khasi States, John F Kharshiing.
During the programme, Kharshiing detailed the historical negotiations that led to the signing of three versions of the standstill arrangements, known as Instruments of Accession (IOA), between the Ministry of States and the 25 Khasi States, both individually and collectively as the Federation of Khasi States.
He explained that the Khasi States retained their identity within the Constitution of India when the IOA and Annexed Agreement (IOA&AA) were accepted by the Union of India on August 17, 1948.
He informed that this agreement led to the formation of the Khasi States Constitutional Assembly, comprising 87 members, including 25 Chiefs, 54 elected representatives based on population, and 8 nominated members (four men and four women).
This assembly was inaugurated by the then Governor of undivided Assam on April 29, 1949.
Kharshiing emphasised that while the IOA and Annexed Agreement represented the Centre’s commitment to constituting the Khasi States assembly or council of chiefs, the non-fulfillment of this commitment has resulted in contradiction of laws, acts, and rules relating to the customary laws of the tribes of Meghalaya.
He asserted that the Federation of Khasi States, as per the treaty terms of the Instrument of Accession and Annexed Agreement, should have been accorded special status, similar to what Jammu and Kashmir had enjoyed till 2019.
Kharshiing concluded by stressing that the IOA & AA is a national commitment yet to be fulfilled by the Government of India, highlighting that while the Khasi States upheld their part of the agreement, the central authorities have not, causing ongoing distress among the indigenous Khasi people.
On the occasion, Kharshiing also released the magazine ‘Ka Rynsan’ volume 9 in the presence of the principal in-charge of the college, Simon Coelho, among others.