Shillong, Dec 5: A delegation of the Grand Council of Chiefs of Meghalaya (GCCM) met the Consul For Political and Economic Affairs, Kolkata, United States of America (USA) Dr Prasenjit R Gupta.
During the meeting, GCCM chairman John F Kharshiing briefed the US official on the challenges of the indigenous people of North East, wherein the Governments of India has showed lack of interest to resolve the long pending issues of the tribal people.
Kharshiing, drew the attention of the numerous Accords in the North East which had come about only through violent movements, such as the Naga ceasefire, Bodo, Mizo, Tripuri, Assam, Garo, Gurkha, and the similar pending resolution of the Khasi political issues under the treaty Instrument of Accession and Annexed Agreement of 17 Aug 1948, which is yet to be honoured by Government of India, and this was due to serious lack of redressal mechanism within the constitution of India.
He further informed that the delay in fulfilling the National Commitment under the Instrument of Accession and Annexed Agreement 17 August 1948, was the root cause of the many Legislative Conflicts, vis-a-vis rights over land, mineral resources, forest, water, traditional governance, that prevail presently, between the Federation of Khasi States, and the Government of India, as there is no mention of this treaty within the Constitution of India till date. Similarly the Khasi States have also been denied their rights and are against the Indo -Bangla Land Agreement.
Kharshiing, informed Dr Gupta, that the traditional institution of self government including their role, functions, responsibilities, status, of the Dorbar Kur, Dorbar Shnong, Dorbar Raid and Dorbar Hima are yet to be defined, till date they find no mention no place within in the Constitution of India and as such are mute spectators to the Indian system of parliamentary elections as the traditional institutions are partyless and based on referendum and consensus.
He informed the US Consul, that he has decided to participate in the upcoming MLA general elections 2018 so as to explore the possibilities of discussing the issues of the traditional institutions within the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly.