By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: UDP legislator Paul Lyngdoh on Thursday called for amendment of the North East Re-Organisation Act of 1971 to facilitate inclusion of several villages to Meghalaya.
Moving a resolution on the ways and means to end the border dispute in the Assembly, Paul Lyngdoh said in the Assembly that the vexed interstate border issue has brought confusion as far as policy makers and citizens are concerned.
For clarity, Lyngdoh cited three major areas-traditional areas of difference emanated right from creation of the State, areas which come under fresh encroachments and areas which are historically part of Khasi Jaintia Hills but due to political expediency, the areas have been tagged along with Assam through a unilateral system.
“The State Government should draw the attention of the Centre while presenting these available evidences to transfer the lands tagged with Assam back to Meghalaya. This Assembly should move the centre to amend the North East Re-Organisation Act of 1971 and facilitate inclusion of these areas into the state of Meghalaya”, he said.
Dwelling on the notification of the Governor of Assam way back in 1951 with regards to areas falling under Block I and II, Lyngdoh said that the notification was done unilaterally and was also against the wishes of the people.
“There is every reason for this Assembly to get the Constitution amended so that these areas can be re-transferred to Meghalaya”, he said adding that history speaks of areas which are clubbed under Block I and II as being specific to those notified by Assam.
The census of 1951 clearly states that areas which do not fall neither under the purview of the notification of 1951 nor the disputed area of Block I and II, forms part of Meghalaya yet they have been considered as disputed areas by Assam.
“When we approach the matter from territorial integrity of community speaking one common language or the historical facts or the population, it was unjustified to transfer the lands to Mikir Hills in Assam”, Lyngdoh said adding that the territorial integrity of the areas under Meghalaya should not be compromised.
“A historical wrong has been created and the Government needs to build up a strong case on the basis of the strong evidences and data available”, he asserted.