Rajas demand implementation of Instrument of Accession

SHILLONG, August 11: The growing demand for implementation of the Instrument of Accession, by which 25 Khasi states joined India in 1947-48, today received a fresh impetus as a Syiems, Lyngdohs and Sirdars, the heads of the states, urged the Union government to give effect to the provisions of the long-forgotten instrument. The demand was raised at a meeting of the Dorbar of the heads of the traditional institutions comprising the Syiems (equivalent of erstwhile Rajas in other parts of the country prior to Independence), Lyngdohs and Sirdars at the office of the Syiem of Mylliem here. The Dorbar expressed dissatisfaction at the present political system, which was not in conformity with the Instrument of Accession, on the ground of weakening the traditional institutions. Several traditional heads questioned the validity of the autonomous district council by contending that the 25 States were wrongly included into the Sixth Schedule without the people's consent. Others alleged that "the district council was created for the benefit of a few self-interested persons". The crucial meeting of the Dorbar decided to meet the national and regional political parties to urge upon them to address the long-pending issue. If required, the Dorbar would seek Constitutional amendments to incorporate the instrument in the Constitution, Dorbar sources said. The day-long meeting elected the new officebearers of the Dorbar with L M Syiem, the Syiem of Hima Mylliem as president and Balajied S Syiem, the Syiem of Hima Khyrim as secretary. The issue promises to become an issue in the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls in Meghalaya as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has already included it in its policy statement for the state while the Nationalist Congress Party (NC) has also assured its inclusion in the party's poll manifesto.