From Our Correspondent
SABUDA: The attempt of the Hynniewtrep People Federation (HPF) and the newly constituted All Nongtung Women Association (ANWA) to persuade the CSWO (I), Sabuda Circle to allow the construction of the SBI Building at Sabuda turned futile as the latter reiterated their stiff opposition to the construction of the bank building.
They convened a meeting at Sabuda LP School, Block-II yesterday and invited the leaders of the CSWO (I) Sabuda Circle for a discussion on the matter.
Chairing the meeting HPF president Pi Lamaria dwelt on the importance of peace and unity and cooperation among the various NGOs in Block II. He also tried to sway the people opinion for allowing the construction of the bank as it will bring development in the areas.
Countering his statement, CSWO (I), Sabuda Circle general secretary I Shabong expressed stiff opposition of the body and appealed that status quo should be maintained in the areas until a concrete solution to the vexed border dispute is arrived by the Assam and the Meghalaya government.
After arriving at no resolution, the meeting decided to take up the matter at the level of the Synjuk Rangbah Shnong Raid Nongtung and the meeting will be held in due course of time.
The common voice of the majority of the Khasi people of the Block-II for the opposition to the construction of the SBI bank at Sabuda is that the bank branch will be Sabuda but with Karbi Anglong as district and Assam as state, it would be another triumph for the Assam in staking their claims in the areas.
Thus they maintained that is that if a bank is to be set up in Block-II it should be one that come from Meghalaya with local Khasi staffs who will understand their problems and languages.