Kyndiah files nomination, adding mother's surname

Shillong, Feb 12 (UNI) Union Tribal Affairs Minister P R Kyndiah's son Waibha K Kyndiah today filed his nomination paper, adding his mother's surname "Khyriem" in the middle.

Mr Kyndiah, who filed his candidature as "Waibha Khyriem Kyndiah" before Assistant Returning Officer V R Syiem from Nongkrem Assembly constituency, was into controversy for violating Sections 10 and 3 (1) of the Khasi Social Custom of Lineage Act, 1997.

Talking to UNI, Mr Kyndiah, contesting as a Congress candidate, said, '' I have added my mother's surname in the nomination paper and hope everything will go accordingly. '' Former Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) chief H S Shylla had questioned Mr Kyndiah's tribal status after taking his father P R Kyndiah's surname, violating the Khasi matrilineal system.

In Meghalaya, the Khasi, Jaintia and Garo communities follow the matrilineal system wherein the surname is traced from the mother's side.

The KHADC even stripped away his Schedule Tribe status on February four after a local organisation "Ka Seng Tip Kur Tip Kha U Khasi" filed a complaint against Mr Kyndiah in the Council.

According to these Sections, '' A Khasi shall cease to be Khasi, if he does not follow the Khasi matrilineal system. '' In addition to this, junior Kyndiah also violated Section 3(1) of the Act, which stated that '' A person whose parents belong to the Khasi community will have to have the surname of his mother. '' The tussle between the Kyndiahs and sacked KHADC chief heated up after the Congress high command allowed junior Kyndiah to contest the March three Assembly poll from Nongkrem, reserved for ST.

However, Mr Kyndiah said he left the matter before the court of Deputy Commissioner, East Khasi Hills, to decide his tribal status.

'' If the court feels that I'm not a Khasi, I will withdraw myself from the fray, '' Mr Kyndiah stated.

In this regard, Deputy Commissioner, East Khasi Hills District, B Dhar was taking legal views before making any decision on February 22.

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