Assembly witnesses heated debates over border agreement, CM rules out revisiting the MoU

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaSeptember 14, 2022

The Assembly on Wednesday witnessed heated debates on the issue related to the first Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between Meghalaya and Assam that ended the dispute in 6 areas of difference even as the state government ruled out revisiting the agreement.

The Speaker, Metbah Lyngdoh warned North Shillong legislator Adelbert Nongrum not to accuse the chair when the latter protested that he was not given a chance to raise supplementary queries on the boundary issue and accused saying “why are you (Speaker) trying to annoy me”.

Nongrum charged that he had raised his hand many times but the Speaker had not given him a chance to participate instead had announced that the House will take up the next item.

When he was permitted to raise his supplementary queries, the North Shillong legislator dared the chief minister Conrad K Sangma to review the MoU by saying “if amendments can be brought to the constitution from time to time why not for this MoU, if not, then there is something behind.”

Replying to this, Sangma instead directed back the question to Nongrum and said, “I dare to ask him can you name the 12 areas of difference for me if you are so concerned about them. Please name them and how many times has he visited these areas of difference. Please tell us.”

At this time, Nongrum started shouting and said that it was the duty of the chief minister to name the 12 areas of difference and alleged that the government has failed by not taking the stakeholders into consideration.

Annoyed by Nongrum’s action, Deputy Chief Minister in-charge Parliamentary Affairs Prestone Tynsong intervened and asked the member how he alleged like that when he was supposed to ask questions.

“Please don’t create drama, he has to ask questions. Don’t be emotional, you don’t know anything and don’t try to act. Let him name the areas of difference,” Tynsong said.

Continuing with his reply, the chief minister said that creating a scene and drama and just trying to show emotional outburst is not the way. According to him, if the member has a specific concern or a village he can always tell as the government is ready to discuss. He said shouting and creating a drama just because elections will not help.

“Tell us specifics don’t be generic. This is a serious matter. We are here for serious discussion, we are here to answer and take the talks forward. Please give us suggestions or even constructive criticism. You may criticize but be constructive in the criticism. Therefore there are ways of doing things but emotional outburst is not the way,” he said.

“To answer to his question, we dare to move forward on this; it is not a question of not to dare move forward. We dare to go ahead with this. This is the only government which dares to say it. We took a responsibility that we will do it and it is we who dare,” the CM further added..

To a query raised by Nongpoh legislator Mayralborn Syiem, Sangma maintained that the question of revisiting the MoU does not arise at all.

“We are ready to discuss and talk to the people but revisiting the MoU will not happen. If the members have concerns about certain villages, we are ready to talk within the framework of the MoU,” he said.

He informed that the process of survey for the purpose of demarcation of borders is underway adding that the presence of both states departments is mandatory for any kind of survey work and that it will be done in such a manner that people will be taken into confidence.

He said once the Survey of India completed the actual demarcation of the boundaries of the two states, a report will be submitted. “Thereafter, a Bill will be send and then passed in the parliament,” the CM added.

He informed that over 28 meetings and 18 field visits have been done during the first phase of border settlement. “Almost 90-98% of the areas are not complaining because they are satisfied (with the process),” he said.

Umroi legislator George B Lyngdoh pointed out that as per clause 9 of the MoU it had stated “it was decided that any other areas/villages situated outside the area of difference shown in the maps submitted by Meghalaya vide their letter…dated August 8, 2011 will not be considered.”

He however said the MoU has moved away from the documents submitted by the state government adding but the CM in his reply had stated it is difficult to move away from 2011 report.

On this, the chief minister said both are the same thing as “what we have decided in the MoU is that we cannot go outside the map.”

“For all practical purposes, it is difficult for us to convince Assam today that yes in 2011 these were the areas of difference and today we realize there are 20 villages more. Please increase it. Assam made a very strong point that since you have already demarcated the areas, that areas will discuss any areas beyond that we cannot – that was said in the MoU, they are the same thing,” he added.

Meanwhile, the chief minister informed that the second phase of talks with the government of Assam has already commenced on August 21.

He informed that the government has also finalized the list of regional committees and assured that representatives from the autonomous district councils (ADCs) will also be part of these committees for finding an amicable solution to resolve the remaining six areas of difference.