SHILLONG, March 9: Opposition Chief Whip, George B Lyngdoh on Wednesday asked the state government to make public the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed by the chief ministers of Assam and Meghalaya on resolution of the interstate boundary dispute in six areas. However, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma was apathetic towards the demand.
Lyngdoh raised the demand when the CM was replying to a query from East Shillong MLA, Ampareen Lyngdoh on the status of the border talks.
When the AITC MLA inquired about the details of the dialogue and the reason behind the MoU not being made public, the CM refrained from giving a pointed response and said there were many reasons for it.
Sangma also mentioned that he had already given out lot of details and added that it would be difficult for him to give full details since there are a number of finer points.
He also said that he did not want to mislead the House and would wait for completion of the survey. “The details will be shared at an appropriate time,” he said, adding that the government is refraining from giving a statement that may not stand correct after the final deliberations. When the Opposition Chief Whip pointed out that he was talking about the MoU signed by the two CMs which has not been made public, the CM said he had already made a statement based on the MoU.
Hitting back, the AITC MLA said the CM was giving different replies. “The written reply says the MoU was signed on January 29 and in the course of his reply the CM said the MoU will be finalised in Delhi,” George said, while seeking to know which one was true.
Joining the discussion, North Shillong MLA, Adelbert Nongrum stating that more clarification is required before the final discussion takes place in order to avoid any blunder.
Unwilling to budge from his stand, the CM said his statement in the House had all the necessary information.