Conrad assures to take up with Assam for resumption of border talks

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaAugust 24, 2020

The Regional Democratic Alliance (RDA) of the United Democratic Party (UDP) and Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP) has suggested the need for Meghalaya and Assam to resume the border talks in order to resolve the long pending dispute between the two states.

“We have expressed before the chief minister Conrad K Sangma (on the need) to propose to Assam government to resume the dialogue and make attempt for a permanent solution of the boundary dispute which includes Block I and II and some areas in Garo Hills,” UDP chief adviser and former deputy chief minister, Bindo M Lanong said after a meeting with Sangma on Monday.

Lanong said the RDA delegation also informed the chief minister about the report of the YV Chandrachud Committee, which was constituted in 1985 to look into the boundary dispute between Assam and Meghalaya.

“In its report submitted in 1987, the Chandrachud Committee could not propose anything as there was no proposal at all as they simply reported that Meghalaya had expressed its own position about the boundary tracing back to the Khasi states and their boundaries and that they would like to go back to the boundaries existed then,” he said.

“The committee had said we appreciate the sentiments of the Khasis in so far as that point is concerned and we also cannot forget or deny Assam their expression that they stand by the constitutional position (meaning the North East Reorganization Act in 1971),” he added.

Asserting the need to maintain good relationship with neighbouring Assam, Lanong, also a nominated MDC of the KHADC said, “We cannot fight like India and China as this is our country.”

According to him, until the issue is taken up at any point of time, the governments of Assam and Meghalaya should respect and maintain the status quo as far as the areas of differences are concerned.

“We would like people of Assam to respect the sentiments of the people of Meghalaya and our Meghalayans also should respect the sentiments of the people of Assam,” he said.

The former deputy chief minister further informed that the chief minister has assured the delegation that he would take up with Assam for resumption of border talks in order to find a permanent solution on the boundary dispute.