SHILLONG: A war of words has broken out between the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) and the state Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the issue of tribal rights on Friday.
The KHADC has accused two senior leaders of the state BJP of facilitating residential and no-objection certificates (NOC) for non-tribals, enabling them to engage in trade and other activities within a Shillong locality. In response, cabinet minister AL Hek stated that “it’s a leader’s responsibility to assist the people of Meghalaya.”
It all began when the council accused cabinet minister AL Hek and Sanbor Shullai of granting permission to the president of the then Refugee Rehabilitation Colony Welfare Committee (RRWC) in Shillong’s Rynjah area to issue the documents. “We have seen it in paper that a resolution was signed by the two legislators Hek and Shullai. This is strongly against the rule of the Elaka Administration Act of the council,” Pyniaid Syiem, chief executive member (CEM) of the council, told the press.
According Syiem, such resolutions violate the authority granted to the traditional dorbars by the council as the area is under the jurisdiction of the Dorbar Shnong of Rynjah, recognised by the KHADC.
The RR Colony is a settlement of about 250 homes that was built for those who fled Bangladesh in the 1971 war, mostly Hindu families. The KHADC chief also reiterated that the council has no intention to interfere with religious rights of a welfare society, but one must abide by the law of the land.
“As administration is concerned, we will ensure that residents of the area follow the laws of the land. This is Khasi Hills and not Bangladesh or West Bengal, and the 2019 notification still stands,” Syiem said.
Expressing ignorance of such accusations, cabinet minister Hek said that as leaders of the state it is their duty to help the people of Meghalaya. “There is no question of violating the traditions or the council. We help everybody who needs our help. This is the responsibility of the leaders and the BJP.
Meanwhile, the Federation of Khasi Jaintia and Garo People (FKJGP) feels that the MLAs should refrain from devaluing the role of traditional bodies. The pressure group also issued a stern warning to the RRWC to not issue “illegal” documents.
“The RRWS should instead act in accordance with the notification of the Hima Mylliem in 2019 which declared the colony as Them Rynjah or else the federation will be forced to tread a different path in order to safeguard our culture and tradition,” the FKJGP said.
