HITO demands Govt to set up boundary committee

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJuly 5, 2021

The Hynniewtrep Integrated Territorial Organization (HITO) has demanded the state government to move the Centre for constitution of a boundary committee for resolving the interstate border dispute with Assam.

“(We) demand the immediate constitution of a boundary committee by the government of India…so that the issues are resolved and taken to their logical conclusion at the earliest,” HITO president Donbok Dkhar said in a memorandum submitted to the state home minister Lahkmen Rymbui on Monday.

The letter was however received by the health minister AL Hek.

He also proposed that the boundary committee should comprise representatives from the Federation of Khasi States and the autonomous district councils (ADCs).

“We also categorically state that any discussion/negotiation on the boundary dispute between Meghalaya and Assam must include the Federation of Khasi States Clause 1, 2, 4 and 5 of the Annexed Agreement of the Instrument of Accession, accepted and signed by Shri. C Rajagopalachari, Governor General of India and the twenty-five Khasi States on 17 August 1948,” Dkhar said.

“This significant and long-awaited Treaty is yet to be honored by the Government of India and the Khasi States. Hence, it is incumbent on the MDA government to clarify its position on this Treaty of the Khasi States because failing to do so will undermine the spirit of the Treaty during boundary parleys,” he added.

Dkhar said the MDA government should also come clean by tabling a white paper in the public domain so that all stakeholders are made aware of the truth and facts vis-à-vis information on the actual areas of difference between Meghalaya, Federation of Khasi States (Chiefs) and Assam.

He also lauded the Centre for initiating the steps towards solving the long pending inter-state border issues prior to the celebration of the 75^th India’s Independence.