MIMSTF slams KHNAM’s demand to limit ST quotas to three tribes

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaSeptember 3, 2025

The Meghalaya Indigenous Minority Scheduled Tribe Forum (MIMSTF) has sought the intervention of the Chief Secretary and State Vigilance Commissioner DP Wahlang into the recent demand of the Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) working president Thomas Passah that Scheduled Tribe (ST) quotas in Meghalaya are exclusively reserved for the Khasi, Jaintia and Garo communities.

“We strongly condemn and considered to be divisive and discrimination against the other recognized Scheduled Tribes of Meghalaya as like Rabha, Hajong, Koch, Boro, Mann and Karbi community of Meghalaya,” MIMSTF said in a memorandum submitted to Wahlang on Wednesday.

Referring to the BSF’s special recruitment drive in the state, the forum said that it should be borne in mind that the constitution (Scheduled Tribes) order, 1950, the constitution (Scheduled Tribes) (Union Territories) Order, 1951 [As amended by the scheduled Castes and Tribes Lists (Modification Order) 1956, the Bombay Reorganisation Act. 1960, the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966, the Himachal Pradesh Act. 1970, the North-Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) Act. 1971, the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled tribes Orders (Amendment) Act. 1976 and the Schedule Castes and Scheduled tribes Orders (Amendment) Act. 2002) has recognized the Rabha, Hajong, Koch, Boro, Mann and Karbi also included into the list of Scheduled Tribes along with these three major tribes of Meghalaya, and their rights and identity are duly protected under the law.

“So, such remarks by the working president of a political party of Meghalaya is very disregard and harmful to its diversity coexistence with peace and harmony in between the different tribes of Meghalaya. The Political parties and leaders should not spread any divisive narratives against any tribes, rather should uphold unity, inclusiveness and respect for every community thereinto,” it said.

“Hence, in affirming to defend the honour and rights of our community, we the “Meghalaya Indigenous Minority Scheduled tribes Forum (MIMSTF)” would like to request your benevolence chair to retort the unprecedented statement and marginalize the constitutional rights and provision prescribed thereof,” the forum added.