By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The one month old MUA-II Government has an uphill task to fulfill the aspirations of the people of the State in the context of finding solution to several pending issues.
While the issue of influx took an ugly turn on Thursday in urban areas of Shillong, there have been sporadic incidents of violation of the status quo in the border areas by the Assam Government.
The violence on Thursday evening during the KSU sponsored procession appears to be a fall out of the delay on the part of implementing an effective mechanism to deal with influx in the State.
It was last year that a committee was formed to look into the issue of influx and suggest some remedial measures. The committee suggested the implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system in the State.
During the Assembly session last month, the Chief Minister said he had received the report of the Committee, but only added that an ‘effective mechanism’ will be adopted to deal with the issue of influx.
Besides the recurring problems arising out of border disputes in Ri-Bhoi and West Khasi Hills districts which await solution, the border talks between Assam and Meghalaya have remained inconclusive after the Langpih incident of May 14, 2010.
Soon after the Langpih incident, which occurred almost three years ago, there was a chief ministerial level talk to discuss the issue and subsequently the chief secretary level meetings were also held on two occasions to find a solution to the problem. Though the Meghalaya Government has provided documentary evidences to claim possession of the 12 areas of differences, Assam is yet to respond.
Militancy in Garo Hills is another cause of concern for the new Government as it entered into a peace pact with the ANVC (B), but the GNLA was not keen to hold dialogue.
Moreover, another faction of ANVC (B) has been founded led by Senbirth Marak alias Norok.
The delay in finalizing the draft peace pact with the ANVC and ANVC (B) and the absence of any peace talks with the GNLA may hamper the desire of the Government in achieving lasting peace in Garo Hills.
As far as corruption is concerned, the Government has not come clear on the education scam which affected the future of aspiring teachers in the State.
With the Government yet to act on the CBI findings on the tampering of mark sheets, the issue is set to be raked up by the Opposition.
Drafting an effective Lokayukta Act is another headache for the MUA-II Government.
The Opposition leaders and the NGOs have already exposed lacunae in the existing Act.
It was under pressure from the NGOs that the Government hurriedly passed a ‘defective’ Lokayukta Act in December last year.