Editor,
Of late, there have been a lot of unnecessary border skirmishes amongst the North Eastern States. The latest fallout at the Assam-Meghalaya border of Iongkhuli , Ri Bhoi District and the Assam-Mizoram dispute in Lailapur-Vairengte border are results of a “collective failure” on the part of all state governments, past and present and more importantly the Center. In all the border issues among states of the North East though, there is one common denominator, Assam and understandably so, since every other state apart from Manipur and Tripura have been carved out of it. The longest border dispute in the North East is between Assam and Nagaland since the latter gained statehood in 1963. It is highly commendable to see the two state governments recently reaching an agreement to de-escalate border tensions with immediate effect.
However, looking back at history, the border disputes between states in India as a whole has never been kind, whether it is between Karnataka and their southern counterparts or Assam and its surrounding sisters states and as the record shows, not one border dispute among states has been resolved post India’s Independence. The question then is whether the Union Home Minister’s wish and advice to the North Eastern states to sort out their border differences before the 75th Independence Day Celebration will ever materialize. It looks highly improbable.
Closer home we have 12 points of dispute along the 884.9 km long border with Assam and so far the collective decision of both the governments during the second round of CM-level talks to try and solve the issues in phases within the first six areas is a step in the right direction. There is a remote possibility that such a long pending land thorny issue will even be resolved in the next few years, certainly not even in the backdrop of a “bonhomie” that both the CMs share at the moment. There are too many stakeholders that have to be taken into account, especially, political rivals whose political agenda moves in the opposite direction. The apolitical class, though, desire to see this issue solved once and for all, irrespective of any political affiliations. There is no need to hide that past governments have failed us especially during those periods when we had the same regimes ruling Meghalaya and Assam for a long time and not to mention a friendly government at the Center as well. It was indeed a missed opportunity for them, to say the least, in spite of their rhetoric in recent days. At the same time, we cannot ignore the fact that the present dispensations have a big moment before them – a moment of history in the making.
The beginning, resulting from the first two rounds of CM-level talks is promising, but to be progressive in achieving the desired goal, one needs to go beyond the so called “political will” and the “bhai-bhai pradarshan” that the two CMs have exhibited thus far. It needs the unraveling of their charisma, the digging of their personalities, and the summoning of all their political experiences, even the need to go beyond their party’s decree. It may be the toughest battle in their political careers yet, but an opportunity nevertheless. For both the CMs who have so far displayed unparalleled leadership qualities in their respective states, their coming together to solve this long standing issue is not an accident. It is a moment though, that will prove their mettle. It is a challenge never seen before but the goal at the end of the road is worth fighting for and even If that goal seems too high to achieve during our lifetime, as a famous personality once said “If you set your goals ridiculously high and it’s a failure, you will fail above everyone else’s success.”
Yours etc.,
Lawrence Pherliam Sumer,
Via email
Complexities of the boundary issue
Editor,
For some time now, the inter-state border problem with neighbouring Assam has been cropping up. People residing on the Meghalaya side of the border continue to face threats and intimidations of various kinds both from state and non-state actors from the Assam side. It is also noteworthy that the Assam-Meghalaya border skirmish had led to the loss of innocent lives in West Khasi Hills a couple of years ago. To add insult to injury the Assam Government did not take any action on the personnel responsible while we kept our eyes shut over this. It is also ironic that the political will and sagacity is lacking in the present set of politicians. Some even contend that they need to handle Assam with kid gloves as Meghalaya is “over dependent” on Assam for everything.
The present set of politicians do not reflect the characteristics of those like late HS Shylla, HS Lyngdoh, EK Mawlong and others who have left this world. I remember that a senior SP of the district was transferred when he stood up to call a spade a spade in the light of the Assam police intrusion. I often wonder why the same principles of justice is found wanting in the present set of police officers of our state. Coming to our ADCs, both the KHADC and JHADC will need to undertake a cadastral survey and for this they should call a Dorbar involving all the Syiems, Dolois, Sirdars etc., who truly represent the rights of the local communities and who know the lay of the land which can then be represented to the State and Union Government. However, for this we will require an honest approach not a populist vote-catching strategy. It has to be in the best interests of the state and its people.
Yours etc..
Dominic Stadlin Wankhar
Shillong
Garib diplomacy
Editor,
Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a recent video interaction in Madhya Pradesh categorically blamed the Congress for using ‘Garib Diplomacy’ without doing anything substantial for the poor and marginalised. While there may be some element of truth in his accusations, the fact is that no government at the Centre whether BJP or Congress did anything remarkable over the years for the uplift of the have-nots as testified by different economic indices. It is an irony that in a democracy like India all political parties use jargons like ‘Nyay’ or ‘Garib Kalyan’ simply as a bait to win elections. While the Congress regime was marked by rampant corruption in implementing different welfare schemes, the Modi Government with its pompous and whimsical policies like demonetisation, instant lockdowns, corporatisation etc. further testifies that over the years the pro-poor mantras chanted by different political parties are nothing but a mirage in the desert, designed only to win elections.
Yours etc.,
Sadiq H. Laskar,
Guwahati