Staff Reporter
Shillong:
Echoing the growing resentment towards the now-signed memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Meghalaya and Assam to resolve six out of 12 areas of the border dispute, the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) along with traditional institutions said that the government drafted the MoU without consulting the stakeholders.
“The signing of the MoU was done without consulting the stakeholders, landowners, dorbar shnong, dorbar raid, Dorbar Hima and especially, the District Council which is a constitutional body,” said Jambor War, an executive member in charge of Elaka administration, post a meeting on the issue, on April 18.
The meeting was attended by deputy chief executive member (CEM) Gigur Myrthong, former chief executive member (CEM) and Congress member of the district council (MDC) PN Syiem, nominated MDC and veteran politician Bindo Lanong, an executive member in charge of Elaka, traditional heads from Jirang, Mylliem, Nongspung, Nonglang, and Jyrngam to discuss the “imbroglio” arising out of the MoU.
Lanong said that stakeholders who attended the meeting have voiced their dissatisfaction with the government for signing the MoU without consulting the District Council and traditional institutions.
War further informed that the KHADC has deferred the meeting to April 26 to discuss it further and come up with a “solution” to the issue.
“After the meet on April 26, we will try to hold a dialogue with the government to remind it that it should take into confidence the district council as the main constitutional body where the traditional institutions are involved,” said Lanong.
Lanong also added that the government has “gone out of its way” while signing the MoU with neighbouring Assam, and the agreement “will neither bring solution nor satisfaction”.
The Council, however, said that it won’t be at loggerheads with the government, and its stand on the MoU will be strictly driven by facts, figures, documents, maps, and historical facts.