SHILLONG:
Chief Minister Conrad Sangma has described as “unfortunate” the opposition’s charge of the government not having consulted stakeholders before signing the border agreement with Assam.
Speaking to reporters after a cabinet meeting, he asserted there has been detailed consultation in this regard.
He and his Assam counterpart Himanta Biswa Sarma signed the memorandum of understanding on six of the 12 areas of difference between the two states in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi on March 29.
The six areas are Tarabari, Gizang, Hahim, Boklapara, Khanapara – Philangkata and Ratachera.
Sangma said it is now up to the Union government to reorganise or redraw the Meghalaya and Assam borders.
“Once the survey and the second course is complete then we expect the government of India will bring forward a Bill in Parliament to reorganise or redraw the borders. The ultimate call is of the Parliament,” he said.
He said that the government is working hard to ensure that the two states agree on a stand and the second step is to take it to the level of the national government.
He said that the government will go to micro details to demarcate the areas which should be in Assam and Meghalaya.
In this connection, the Survey of India will play its part and it has been asked to coordinate with both the state governments to conduct joint surveys.
“It is a process that will take some time to work on but what is important is that this process has finally started. This exercise has allowed us to build trust between both the states and the stakeholders and it has allowed us to lay down some principles on the basis of which we will move forward,” he said.
Asked as to when they will begin the process for the remaining six areas, Sangma said, “We will not waste time and will continue with the momentum. We will do our best to take the next phase forward.”
TYNSONG FLAYS ZENITH
On the other hand, Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong has slammed Trinamool Congress MLA from Rangsakona Zenith M Sangma for trying to gain political mileage by visiting Maikhuli village in Ri-Bhoi district along the Meghalaya-Assam border on the day the memorandum of understanding was signed.
He said that being the chairman of the regional committee, he, along with the traditional heads, had visited the disputed areas and collected all the necessary documents before drafting of the MoU and it is beyond his comprehension as to why Sangma made the visit. “He is not even a member of the Regional Committee in Ri-Bhoi,” said the deputy chief minister, asking him not to indulge in such “dirty” acts.
Earlier on March 29, Sangma had visited Maikhuli and criticised the government for not taking the consent of the stakeholders of the area before drafting the MoU to resolve the boundary dispute between the two states.
“The chief minister misled the House during the assembly session, because at ground zero none of the local people wants to be in Assam, but Conrad said that the MoU has been signed after taking the consent of the people, which is not the case,” Zenith had said, addressing a public meeting in the village.
The MLA also claimed that the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government has succumbed to the pressure from Assam and gave away lands that belong to Meghalaya to the neighbouring state.