Shillong, Aug 4: The Seng Khasi Kmie has decided to leave it to the state government to take a call on the KHAD (Khasi Social Custom of Lineage) (Second Amendment) Bill, 2018 passed by the KHADC which seeks to strip off the Schedule Tribe status of Khasi women who marry non-Khasi men and their offsprings born out of such wedlock.

In a statement issued here on Saturday, SKK general secretary, P.D. Nongrum said, the Seng Khasi Kmie was neither privy nor consulted with regard to the Bill that was submitted to the Governor for his assent.

He however recalled that during the drafting of the Principal Act of the KHAD (Khasi Social Custom of Lineage) Act, 1997, the Seng Khasi was privileged to have been part and parcel in offering its views and opinions to the realization of the Act.

In view of this, Nongrum said, “The Seng Khasi Kmie, therefore, leaves this Amendment Bill to the decision of the State Government and expresses its readiness and willingness to provide suggestions as and when the State Government request for the same.”