Shillong, Nov 4: The Jaiñtia Joint Alliance (JJA) has demanded the State government to immediately withdraw its participation in any regional committees or negotiations with Assam in matters that supersedes constitutional facts.
The JJA, a joint committee of the Jaintia Youth Federation and War Jaintia Students’ Union, are against what it called “unconstitutional transfer” of Block I and Block II by the then Governor of Assam through notifications of 1951 and 1955.
In a petition to the Chief Minister yesterday, the JJA said that the State must formally petition the President of India under paragraphs 14 and 18 of the Sixth Schedule for review and rectification of the notifications and to publicly acknowledge their “illegality” by also reaffirming the territorial integrity of the Khasi-Jaintia Hills within the Sixth Schedule.
It also demanded that the Khasi and Jaintia Autonomous District Councils be empowered to represent the people before the President of India and the Centre as the rightful constitutional bodies.
“The issue of Block I and Block II is not a matter of compromise between the two states. It is a matter of constitutional correction and restoration of tribal rights guaranteed under Sixth Schedule,” the JJA said.
