HT Bureau
DIPHU, Sept 7: United Khasi People’s Organisation (UKPO), West Karbi Anglong has clarified on the memorandum submitted by Amreng Border Committee to the chief minister of Assam which mentioned that the Khasi Pnars living in Malabar have stopped voting in elections in Karbi Anglong.
In a press conference held at District Press Club of Karbi Anglong office on Wednesday, the UKPO president, P Rattane said that the Amreng Border Committee, West Karbi Anglong on September 6 in its memorandum submitted to chief minister of Assam Himanta Biswa Sarma, has stated that since 1986 voters of Khatkasla and Psiar have not caste votes in elections in Assam. Also, the Khasi Pnar of Malalabar polling station from 2012 has not cast votes.
The Amreng Border Committee in its memorandum has also mentioned that the leaders of UKPO have collected the ration cards and voter IDs of all voters and deprived the franchise of the Khasi Pnars living on the border during the KAAC election, 2022.
Amreng Border Committee, mentioned in its memorandum that the Khasi Pnar refused all the welfare schemes given to them by KAAC.
The UKPO president, P Rattane clarified saying that the above allegations of Amreng Border Committee are baseless. He has met with the leaders of the Amreng Border Committee and urged them to rectify the memorandum they have submitted.
The UKPO president further said the Khasi Pnars of Malabar have been living permanently in Karbi Anglong since 1950, when the erstwhile United Mikir Hills district was created. There is no intention to go against KAAC and urged to give them equal rights and privileges for all round development.
Rattaane asserted that the boundary between Meghalaya and Assam (Karbi Anglong) will remain as it is as per the Government notification of 1951. The community do cast votes in elections.
As there is no representation from the community in KAAC, he urged that they be represented. He hoped that under the leadership of chief executive member (CEM), KAAC, Tuliram Ronghang there will be development of the Khasi Pnar community.
