By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The Assembly on Monday witnessed noisy scenes after Speaker AT Mondal disallowed an adjournment motion proposed by Nongkrem legislator Ardent Basaiawmoit (HSPDP) on the recurring incidents of encroachment by Assam in Meghalaya territory.
While expressing his unhappiness over the ruling of Assembly Speaker, Basaiawmoit said that this clearly reflects the indifferent attitude of the Government towards the problems faced by the people residing along the inter-State border.
“We cannot continue to remain silent spectators to the atrocities and harassment of the Assam Government against our people who are residing in the villages along the inter-State border areas,” Basaiawmoit said.
He said that this ‘big brother’ attitude on the part of the Assam Government has to be stopped.
Slamming Parliamentary Affairs Minister Prestone Tynsong for his stand that they cannot go against the rules and procedures of conduct of business in the House by admitting the adjournment motion, Basaiawmoit said that the issue of boundary dispute has been lingering for the past 40 years.
Tynsong also asserted that the House should respect the Speaker’s ruling on the matter.
In response, Basaiawmoit said that the opposition on the part of Tynsong to admit the adjournment motion by referring to the rules clearly reflects his insensitivity towards the miseries of the people residing along the border.
“The issue I am raising is a serious one since it is concerned with the life and death of our own people. We cannot wait another 40 years for the problem to resolve,” the HSPDP legislator said while also stating that the Chief Minister soon after assuming office had assured that he would resolve this issue within 45 days. “But three years has passed and nothing has happened,” Basaiawmoit said.
State that Assam is violating the agreement which had been agreed upon by the two neighbouring States every now and then, he said that the said agreement is binding only for Meghalaya.
“I am surprised that the Assam Government is taking up development projects without bothering to inform the State Government,” the HSPDP legislator said.
Though the Assam Government is taking up various construction works at Langpih and Sabuda, local villagers residing in Langpih are being prevented even to construct their dwelling houses, Basaiawmoit said.
The HSPDP legislator also slammed the Government for failing to take cognizance of the fresh encroachment on the part of the Assam.
Basaiawmoit also wanted the Government to assure that it would adopt a resolution in the House on the boundary issue, a move which was supported by NPP legislator James K Sangma.
However, the Speaker said that the resolution cannot be adopted unless it is discussed in the House.
Joining in the discussion, Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma said that the Government is closely pursuing the issue with its Assam counterpart, and said that discussions between the two States is being held at various levels.
The Chief Minister also sought for details of those families who were being prevented from constructing their dwelling houses at Langpih.
“Unless we have specific details it would be impossible for the Government to take up the issue with its counterpart,” he said.
Responding to the Chief Minister’s statement, HSPDP legislator from Rambrai-Jyrngam, Phlastingwell Pangniang, assured that he would provide the details of the affected families within one week.
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister, while referring to the agreement, said that fresh settlement in areas of dispute should not be encouraged on both sides.
UDP legislator Paul Lyngdoh also took up the issue of alleged destruction of a road by Assam police at Jatalong in Ri-Bhoi district along the inter-State border.
Replying to this, the Chief Minister said that as per reports some unidentified miscreants had come to destroy the approach road.
He, however, refused to confirm if the Assam police was involved in the incident.
The Chief Minister further said that the matter has been taken up with the Assam Government to prevent such demolition or destruction of Government infrastructures in the areas of difference.
He said that Assam has assured of taking necessary action against those involved in the incident.