SHILLONG: Opposition leader, Mukul Sangma wants both the Chief Ministers of Assam and Meghalaya to sit and discuss about the documentations submitted by the previous Congress-led Meghalaya Government in 2012 to Assam Government over disputed areas along the inter-state boundary.
The Congress- led MUA Government in 2012 had submitted an exhaustive and comprehensive documents where Meghalaya made its claims over the disputed areas with documentations and records.
Talking to media persons here on Tuesday, Opposition leader, Mukul Sangma said that it was the responsibility of both the Government to be responsive to the situation and engage in bilateral discussions to find solution to the dispute
Stating that both Assam and Meghalaya Government in the past had committed to maintain peace in the disputed areas, the former Chief Minister asked both the states to ensure that there is no more fresh settlement along the areas of differences and ensure continuation of development process by informing the counterparts before initiating any developmental programmes.
Making it clear that the rights of people should not be subjected to oppression and suppression, he recalled that Meghalaya Government had submitted all the documents about its claims on the disputed areas but then Assam kept on postponing further discussions.
According to Sangma, meetings were fixed at different levels including Chief Secretary level but Assam kept on postponing the meetings and their excuse did not indicate their commitment to resolve the issue at the earliest.
“Probably after going through the document, they found that they are not on a strong wicket to justify that these areas of difference are with Assam,” Sangma said while adding that Assam Government also did not agreed to the idea of asking Centre to mediate into the matter.
“It is time for both the states to come together, sit and find a long lasting solution,” he said.
The tension along the disputed areas escalated once again after Assam police tried to set up a police camp in a land belonging to a resident of Meghalaya
Following the incident, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma has spoken to his Assam counterpart Sarbananda Sonowal on the need to maintain status quo on the border in the wake of tension in Umwali, West Khasi Hills.
Meghalaya Chief Minister, Conrad Sangma is now planning to meet Assam Chief Minister, Sarbanda Sonowal after the Budget session to hold border talks.