JOAI: Amid the second round of talks on the Assam-Meghalaya border dispute, the Jaintia Students’ Union (JNU) has demanded that Block-I be shifted back to Meghalaya.
The JSU has demanded the re-transfer of Block-1, which is currently under the Karbi Anglong Autonomous District Council in Assam, to the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council in Meghalaya.
JSU has written a letter to Meghalaya Government Secretary Cyril V. Dongdoh in this regard.
In a letter to Meghalaya Government Secretary – Cyril V Dongdu – the JSU has outlined some “historical facts” which it has asked to be considered during the second phase of the Assam-Meghalaya border talks.
JSU in Meghalaya said, “…JSU would like to highlight a few relevant facts and points based on the historical facts of the region and land.”
He added: “…a large part of the Jaintia Hills, the smallest settlement of the Jaintia to the left of their larger empire (see map in Appendix A) has been unconstitutionally detached, moved and mechanically unconnected. and tagged with chopped Makir (now Karbi Anglong. ) for administrative convenience only, which was transferred by the Governor of Assam vide notification No. TADR/31/50/148 dated April, 1951.
“Unfortunately, the then government of Assam, against the will of the people, alienated a large part of the Jaintia Hills and included a large part of the Daloship, Sudarship, Raliang Daloship called Pangam Raliang. Jaita, which together comprise almost half of the Jaintia Hills, was forcibly transferred on 13 April 1951 to form the then united Makir and North Cachar districts and tagged along with the mechanically unconnected and truncated Makir.
“Therefore, we request you to resolve the issue of Block-I on the above principles to enable the return or reunification of Block-I to the State of Meghalaya as per the law and the Constitution of India, ” the JSU letter added.
