SHILLONG:
Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP) president, KP Pangniang, has advocated bifurcation of the state saying separate Khasi-Jaintia and Garoland will help resolve the issues faced by the different communities.
Speaking to reporters about the Khasi-Jaintia state, he said that the party has been working closely with the Garoland State Movement Committee (GSMC).
It may be mentioned that the HSPDP had included the demand for a separate state in its manifesto for the last Assembly elections..
Pangniang said, “The Khasi-Jaintia state is the solution to all the problems of the communities. Look at the recognition of the Khasi language. Right now, as per communication received from the Home ministry, we know that it is on the priority list.”
Pangniang said that the Khasi-Jaintia state will be demanded according to Article 371 of the Constitution pointing out that the Sixth Schedule is weak.
Article 371 of the Constitution relates to granting special provisions with respect to some states of the Indian Union.
He questioned whether the delay in recognition of Khasi language is due to political hurdles or something else.
Speaking about the reservation policy, he said, “To do away with communal differences, it is better that we become smaller states like Sikkim or Goa.”
It may be mentioned that the GSMC is spearheading the demand for separation of Garo Hills from Meghalaya to become a state and recently held a meeting demanding a separate state.
It was in February that a delegation of leaders from the GSMC called on Union Home Minister Amit Shah at the BSF station headquarters at Dobasipara, Tura where they submitted a memorandum citing the reasons for the need to give the Garos their own separate state.
Their memorandum mentioned the fight for Garo identity from the time of the famous Garo freedom fighter and patriot Sonaram R Sangma, who spearheaded the movement for a free Garoland as way back as 1899 during the era of the British Raj in India.