SHILLONG: A solution to the border dispute with Assam remains elusive even after 47 years of statehood though the government “is aware of the challenges faced by the people living in border areas”.
Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said on Monday the dispute has been an issue since the inception of the state and successive governments have faced different challenges.
“It is not an easy matter to resolve… The state chief secretary is in touch with his counterpart in Assam,” he said and added that he had unofficial talks with his Assam counterpart Sarbananda Sonowal.
“Therefore, efforts are on. But I think it is not something which is very easy to resolve. There are many challenges and maybe it is only through proper discussions and only by communicating with the other state we may be able to find our way forward. It is not simple because it has been going for many years,” Sangma said.
The Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) has put up banners at State Central library pointing to the problem of Meghalaya not having properly demarcated border even after 47 years of existence.
“47 years governments come and go, where is the development? Where are the laws to curb influx of illegal immigrants? Where are the rights of indigenous people,” read one of the banners.
The banners have been put up across Khasi and Jaintia Hills.
In Motphran, the KSU put up banners on the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill saying, “Citizenship Amendment Bill is vote bank of the BJP” and a banner on North East Students’ Organisation condemning the firing incidents in Tripura for agitating against CAB.”
