NONGPOH: Subsequent to the Hynniewtrep National Youth Front (HNYF), Northern Region, accusing Assam Government of resuming construction of a PMGSY road falling under Hima Nongspung of Jirang Constituency in Ri Bhoi, the Western Ri Bhoi Dorbar Welfare Organisation (WRBDWO) has now accused the neighbouring state of wooing the people of the border areas by offering schemes in order to fulfil its hidden agenda of capturing the state’s territory.
President of WRBDWO, Najim Kharmalki, on Wednesday also alleged that the Assam Government has been taking advantage of the COVID-19 scenario to resume the construction of the PMGSY road at Balakhawa under Hima Nongspung.
“Even if they wanted to resume the construction work, they should have sought due permission from the state government, the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) and, also to inform, village leaders and Hima as these areas belong to Meghalaya,” Kharmalki said.
“The Assam Government was trying to befool the people of our border areas by offering them different kinds of developmental schemes from time to time, and one such instance is the PMGSY road at Balakhawa. The hidden agenda behind all these developmental schemes is to capture our lands,” Kharmalki said, adding that the schemes were a means to strengthen their claims on the state’s territory.
He also clarified that the bridge, where the PMGSY road was constructed, falls under Mawdongki village and not Mawduki, adding that the area has been part of Hima Nongspung of Meghalaya since time immemorial. “Therefore, the organisation seeks the immediate intervention of the Government of Meghalaya in this regard. The organisation will not accept such a move by the Assam Government as long as the impasse of demarcation is settled between the two governments,” Kharmalki said.