SHILLONG: Leader of Opposition Mukul Sangma has accused the MDA Government of being insensitive in dealing with the issue of border dispute with Assam.
Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, the former chief minister said the state government must engage with the neighbouring state to find a lasting solution to the border imbroglio so that the skirmishes along the inter-state border do not result in serious breakdown of law and order.
Terming Assam as the aggressor, Sangma wondered if the state government, the chief secretary and the DCs and SPs of the inter-state border districts have held any discussion with their respective counterpart to ensure peace along the 12 areas of difference.
Stating that Assam has been resorting to mischief to create problems one after the other, Sangma recalled that the neighbouring state remained quiet for some time after the previous Meghalaya government submitted necessary documents and papers staking its claim in the areas of difference between the two states.
“What stops them (Assam Government) from replying to our claims. May be they felt they cannot build a strong case over their claims and so they are quiet,” he said.
Asserting that the issue can be solved only through political pressure, Sangma urged political parties of both the states to be unanimous in their approach towards solving the long pending boundary dispute.
It may be noted that border talks at the level of either the chief minister or the chief secretary of both Assam and Meghalaya have not taken place for a long time despite the fact that minor skirmishes continue to be reported from villages in the disputed territories.