SHILLONG, Dec 8: The Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP), which has been the frontrunner in flagging the issue of interstate boundary row with Assam, has pitched for the Centre’s intervention to solve the vexed problem.
“Just the government of Meghalaya will not be able to sacrifice or to compromise our land. So is Assam… therefore we need intervention from the Centre to help end this problem once and for all and decide on the border… otherwise this will last till when we don’t know. The central government needs to help us,” HSPDP MLA from Mawkyrwat constituency and PHE minister, Renikton L. Tongkhar said.
Pointing out that the border issue is raised by the HSPDP in every election and mentioned in every poll manifesto, Tongkhar reiterated the party’s seriousness in addressing the matter and the efforts put in to resolve the vexed issue in the past. “This time, we are part and parcel of the central government as BJP is working along with us and the central government should listen to us as even in Assam there is a BJP government there,” he said.
He further said that despite Congress governments at the Centre and in both the neighbouring states in the past, the issue could not be solved.
Tongkhar however exuded optimism that the border issue would be solved this time around.
“Better late than never…we should try to solve the matter. I hope there will be some positive initiative this time,” he added.
Asked if the same has been discussed with the chief minister, Tongkhar answered in the affirmative, saying, “We don’t want it (border issue) to be a HSPDP issue alone. We want everyone to work together as this is a problem of the Jaidbynriew as a whole and everybody should take collective responsibility to resolve it,” he added.