Meghalaya's HITO raises Khasi state flag at Lum Shillong, urges Guv intervention on treaty commitments

The Hynniewtrep Integrated Territorial Organization (HITO) today hoisted the Khasi State flag at Lum Shillong, renewing its demand for the government of Meghalaya to act on long-pending directives from the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST).
 

The NCST, in its directives of April 2012 and October–November 2014, had called for the incorporation of treaty agreements between the Khasi states and the Union of India into the Constitution as a special Article, to safeguard the rights of the Khasi and Jaiñtia people.
 

Marking the anniversary of the Instrument of Accession and Annexed Agreement signed on August 17, 1948, HITO also submitted a memorandum to Governor C. H. Vijayashankar, urging his intervention. The organization reminded that the agreement, signed by then Governor-General of India C. Rajagopalachari, recognized the distinct status and treaty rights of the Khasi states—commitments which remain unfulfilled.
 

In the memo, HITO stressed the need for the Governor to take up the matter with the state government and ensure a comprehensive report is sent to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.
 

“The delay in executing the promises made in this agreement is a matter of great concern for our community, impacting our social, cultural, and legal standing,” the group said in its letter.
 

HITO, formed in 2021, said its core mission is to protect the social and customary laws, along with treaty rights, of the Khasi and Jaiñtia people. The group emphasized that fulfilling these commitments is crucial for preserving the community’s historical identity and ensuring justice for future generations.