Shillong, Jan 28: The Hynñiewtrep Integrated Territorial Organisation (HITO) has sought clarity regarding the long-pending implementation of the Instrument of Accession and the Annexed Agreement that brought the Khasi states into the Union of India in 1948.
In a letter to Chief Secretary Shakil Ahamed, HITO wants details of a November 27, 2014, letter from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to the Meghalaya government regarding the IOA.
The organisation said it is concerned about delays in fulfilling national commitments made in the agreement.
The IOA and Annexed Agreement were signed by the Government of India and Khasi States on August 17, 1948. HITO cites various communications, including from the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes and National Human Rights Commission, highlighting the issue.
HITO said the issue goes to the core of what it described as “national solemn commitments” accepted at the time of accession, and argued that the delay in fulfilling those commitments has left traditional Khasi institutions in a constitutional grey zone for decades.
