Shillong, Feb 13: The Hynniewtrep Integrated Territorial Organisation (HITO) wanted the chief electoral officer (CEO), BDR Tiwari, to revisit Meghalaya’s electoral rolls so that foreigners can be removed from the voters’ list.
To protect the state’s indigenous population, the Memorandum of Settlement Accords principles should be applied to identify and remove unauthorized foreigners from the voters’ list.
“The foreigners’ problem in Meghalaya was directly inherited from Assam, and the Government of India should have applied the same principles as laid down in the Memorandum of Settlement Accord,” HITO president Donbok Dkhar said in a letter to Tiwari while citing historical context and the need to protect indigenous rights.
Referring to a 1985 petition by late Prof. M.N. Majaw, Dkhar stressed the need to apply the Accord’s principles, using 1966 as the base year and 1971 as the cut-off year, to remove unauthorized foreigners from the voters’ lists.
“It is imperative to review the electoral rolls… to delete all illegal foreign nationals enrolling in the electoral process,” he said.
The recommendations include limiting accepted enrolment documentation, excluding Aadhaar cards as sole proof of identification.
“This system may inadvertently facilitate misuse, allowing individuals without legitimate residency status to obtain electoral enrolment,” Dkhar said.
HITO also advocated for recognizing local documents like village Dorbars, Syiem, Nokma, and clan certificates as valid proof of identity and residency.
“These documents provide robust verification of an individual’s deep-rooted connection to the community,” the organisation said.
HITO is for a cut-off year based on the 1985 Memorandum of Settlement Accord to protect the state’s cultural heritage.
“We advocate for establishing the principles of the Accord… to protect and preserve the rich cultural heritage, unique languages, distinct customs, and traditional ways of life of the Khasi, Jaintia, and Garo peoples,” Dkhar said.
Highlighting the state’s geographical vulnerability, HITO said, “The geographical realities of our location near the India-Bangladesh border with 443 km border heightens the potential threat of unauthorized foreign nationals enrolling in our electoral rolls.”
The organisation also expressed concern over the ease of obtaining Aadhaar cards. “Numerous reports from reputable news outlets have highlighted the alarming ease with which Aadhaar cards may be obtained, further amplifying these concerns.”
“The establishment of Meghalaya in 1972 was not merely a political act; it was a significant milestone aimed at safeguarding our indigenous identity and ensuring that our unique cultural tapestry endures through generations,” the HITO leader added.
