Shillong: The Meghalaya government on Wednesday asserted its claims on 12 areas of differences with Assam.
Replying to a resolution moved by KHNAM legislator Adelbert Nongrum in the Assembly, chief minister Conrad K. Sangma said there are official communications of the British period which establishes that the areas which were parts of the Khasi states had been tagged with the neighbouring districts - now falling under Assam - for revenue collection without severing their historical links with the Khasi states.
"If they were parts of the Khasi states, they should now form parts of Meghalaya," Conrad said. He pointed out that several villages located within the areas of difference formed parts of the Khasi states.
"Even if for some specific administrative purposes a few of these villages were placed under the control of the revenue districts of the erstwhile composite state of Assam, such villages continued to be parts of the Khasi states for all other purposes. Historically, linguistically and ethnically also, they were more akin to the Khasi community," the chief minister said.
The territory known as the Khasi states was administered and managed by traditional chiefs even during the British era. Except a few pockets within Shillong and a few other villages, they did not form parts of the British India territory.
The 12 areas of difference between the two states include Tarabari, Gizang, Hahim, Langpih, Borduar, Boklapara, Nongwah-Mawtamur, Khanapara-Pillangkata, Desh Doomreah, Block I and II, Khaduli-Psiar and Ratacherra, and cover an area of 2,729.14 square km.
Conrad said the delimitation notifications issued by then Assam government in respect of the constituencies of then Khasi and Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council, form a reliable source of ascertaining the territory of former united Khasi and Jaintia Hills district.
"An examination of the delimitation notifications of 1952, 1966 and 1972 indicates that a many villages located within the areas of differences were part of the united Khasi and Jaintia Hills district and, therefore, should now form part of Meghalaya," he said.
