By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Meghalaya has urged the Centre to form a neutral committee to solve vexed border dispute with Assam.
Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma made this plea during his meeting with Union Home Minister P Chidambaram in New Delhi on Sunday. Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi was also present in the meeting.
The chief ministers of both the states were invited by Chidambaram to discuss the border imbroglio that is haunting both the states from several decades.
Both the states admitted that a permanent solution to the border problem was the need of the hour.
Speaking from New Delhi, Dr Sangma later said a neutral commission would be in the best possible option to solve the impasse.
During the meeting, Dr Sangma also referred to the recommendations of Justice Chandrachud Committee.
Assam, however, reiterated its opposition to the boundary commission mooted by Meghalaya saying that the latter had once refused to recognize such a commission’s (Chandrachud) recommendations.
According to Dr Sangma, a chief secretary-level meeting would be held later this month to discuss the documents submitted by Meghalaya to stake its claim over the disputed areas in order to take the exercise a step forward.
UDP condemnation: Meanwhile, UDP has condemned the strong-arm tactics of Assam government in Langpih resulting in renewed fear psychosis among the Khasi villagers.
In a statement, UDP’s working president Paul Lyngdoh said Assam government’s belligerence on the matter is proof of its insincerity in settling the dispute amicably and warrants an appropriate intervention on the part of the state government as the situation demands. The party questions the motive behind Assam minister’s visit and called upon the villagers not to be cowed down by any such aggressive postures.