Review Indo Nepal Friendship for Nepali created tension in Block-I & II

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaApril 17, 2022

Ka Sur U Paidbah Hynniewtrep Advisor Erwin K Syiem Sutnga on Saturday called for the immediate review of implementation the Indo-Nepal Friendship Treaty in Meghalaya for the Nepali community created communal tension in the Khasi-Pnar villages under Block I & II.

Sutnga told a gathering at a public meeting organized jointly by the Hynniewtrep Border Dispute Redressal Forum (HBDRF) and the Labang Nongphyllut People Council and supported by Mukroh MDC Aibor Shadap.

The Nepali people have created a sense of insecurity and fears for the Khasi people living in Block-II and they have free passage to Meghalaya due to the Treaty, Sutnga justified.

Firing salvo at the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, the advocate turned politician said that the MoU is detrimental and perilous to the people of the State of Meghalaya as the MoU was shadily signed by the MoU thereby losing large area of lands in the process.

He also said that Sangma has no authority whatsoever to sign the MoU as the lands does not belonged to the Govt but are owned by individuals and traditional institutions and the Chief Minister infringed the jurisdiction of Sixth Schedule.

Sutnga also informed that he will be meeting the traditional institutions and people who were adversely affected by the MoU on Monday to decide for filing case in the Supreme Court against the MoU.

 LNPC Secretary M M Thaiang informed that the struggle for retransferring Block-I  & II had started right after the signing of the notification in 1951 also leading to the arrest of 17 Pnar people in Block-I. He also said that in 1958 a joint survey was conducted where a unanimous decision of retransferring the Pnar villages in Block-I to Jowai Civil Sub Division from Mikir Hills but till date the decision was not implemented.

The speakers in the meeting were Synjuk Ki Waheh Shnong President A Lipon, Jaintia Students Union General Secretary T Suchen, KSU West Jaintia Hills District Vice President Shanbor War, Ka Sur U Paidbah Hynniewtrep leaders R Thabah and Boldness Nongum. The meeting attended by people from Block-I decided to demand the retransfer of Pnar villages under Block-I to Meghalaya.