The Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) has not allowed the Garos to hold the post of the Rangbah Shnong under Raid Marwet of Hima Mylliem.
This was stated today by Deputy Chief Executive Member Pyniaid N. Syiem while replying to the general discussion on the budget tabled by the Chief Executive Member Pyniaid Sing Syiem yesterday.
The matter was raised by leader of opposition Titosstarwell Chyne after the All Ri-Bhoi Garo Headmen Association recently met Chief Minister Conrad Sangma and sought his intervention to give them recognition as headmen.
Chyne said the Garo population living in Khasi Hills constituencies such as Shella, Mawsynram, Rambrai, Ranikor, Jirang, etc has never been deprived of any of their rights but they should not be allowed to snatch away the position of Rangbah Shnong which belonged to the Khasi people.
Stating that such demand by the Garo group is a threat to the Khasi people and the Khasi traditional heads, Chyne urged the KHADC executive committee not to entertain such demand.
He also questioned the executive committee for absence of any follow-up action on the second phase of the boundary talk between Meghalaya and Assam.
Chyne also criticised the executive committee over reopening of shops in Majai which were closed down by KHADC during the recent inspection of trading license conducted in the presence of the CEM and the executive member in charge of trade.
“If the CEM and the EM have themselves gone to shut down the shops but the shopkeepers have opened their shops the next day itself is a matter of great disgrace for all the members of the council,” he said, adding that KHADC has become a laughing stock before everyone.
