SHILLONG:
Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, on April 27, came down heavily on Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president, Vincent H Pala, saying that it doesn’t suit the latter’s stature to have “such micro thoughts” on the government’s endeavour to resolve the vexed border issue with Assam.
The chief minister was reacting to Pala’s allegations made on April 25 that the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government’s decision to sign the border MoU was to ensure that an under-construction five-star hotel at Khanapara comes under Meghalaya.
Sangma further added that the MPCC chief is more concerned about the hotel than the border agreement signed between the two states to resolve the long-pending border dispute.
“The thought that he (Pala) was highlighting never crossed the government’s mind while resolving the border issue as it was clear that the land where the hotel is being constructed is very much within the territory of Meghalaya,” he said.
Adding that the land where the hotel is being constructed was never a part of the disputed areas, Sangma said, “Irrespective of the border negotiations with Assam, the hotel was never part of the dispute as that area was always within Meghalaya. The MP has got it wrong and he has to do his homework better, but I want to just leave it at that.”
Stating that the government is fully committed to resolve the border issue, Sangma said there is no reason for anybody to doubt the sincerity and the intention of this government to find an amicable and best solution keeping the larger interest of the people of the state in mind. “I don’t think there is any need to play any kind of personal attack or politics on this. This is an issue of the people,” he said.