The Social Organizations of Meghalaya Against Land Alienation (SOMALA) today said that the government of Assam has no right to claim the land of the Khasi states along the interstate border.
In a statement, SOMALA Convener, W Anthony, said that it agreed with former Deputy Chief Minister Bindo Lanong’s recent statement wherein he recalled that the Justice YV Chandrachud Commission had submitted its report in 1987 without any recommendation or suggestion.
According to Lanong, the Khasi states were brought within the Dominion of India by means of the Instrument of Accession and Standstill Agreement but these lands were not in the common list of the Dominion, which preceded the Republic.
“Therefore, the Dominion of India and the provincial government of Assam had no power or right or justification over the land of the Khasi states during that period. Now also the government of Assam has no right to claim the land of the Khasi states through border issues,” Anthony said.
He said the territories of the Khasi states await settlement of the boundary with Assam. However, it is yet to be seen whether the Meghalaya borders are the same as that of the Khasi states.
