SHILLONG, March 14: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma told the Assembly on Monday that the final settlement on six of the 12 areas of differences taken up in the first phase is likely to happen in New Delhi within this month.
“The final discussion and signing of the memorandum of understanding will take place within this month. The MHA has given a tentative date of March 27 to take up this matter,” Sangma said while replying to the budget discussion in the state Assembly.
He further said the Cabinet colleagues involved in the whole exercise will be accompanying him to Delhi for the meeting.
“The agreement on the six areas of differences will be historic and in the best interest of the border residents,” he said.
The Chief Minister pointed out that the boundary issue has been pending for a very long time.
“I am happy that we are making a breakthrough in the 50th year of statehood. This government has been decisive. There is no reason why the people in the border areas have to continue to suffer. They have been living in fear for the past many years,” he said.
Sangma also said the government is trying to resolve the Them Metor (Harijan Colony) issue.
“We had to deal with this issue in the first year of our government. I am happy to announce that we would be able to take important steps in the next few months,” he said.
He said the court has taken cognisance of this matter with certain observations and the government is confident of resolving it amicably.
“I would not like to say anything more since the matter is under the adjudication of the court,” the Chief Minister said.
Another issue on the government’s list of priorities is the peace talks with the banned Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council, he said. “We are happy that the HNLC is ready to have unconditional talks within the constitutional framework. We have already named the interlocutor,” he added.
Border resolution process ‘path-breaking’: Assam Guv
Assam Governor Jagdish Mukhi has termed the ongoing Assam-Meghalaya border resolution process as a “path-breaking” move that would set the tone for resolving pending boundary disputes with other states of the region and strengthen the spirit of a united Northeast.
Addressing the Assam Assembly on the inaugural day of the budget session on Monday, Mukhi said that while Assam has been facing border disputes with the neighbouring states of Nagaland, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram since their creation, the incumbent government has taken a bold and positive step for settling the border disputes conclusively.
“A path-breaking initiative has been taken with Meghalaya to resolve the vexed boundary issue in respect of six areas of difference out of 12 such areas by setting up regional committees headed by ministers on both sides to engage with local people and community organisations using the “panch sutras” of administrative convenience, contiguity, ethnicity, people’s opinion and historical perspective as yardsticks,” Mukhi said while reading out a part of his 38-page speech.
“Based on the recommendations of these committees, an MoU between the two states has been firmed up and the government of India is seized with necessary groundwork to make this unique initiative reach fruition,” he said.
“With Assam and Meghalaya inching closer towards a permanent settlement of their differences, other neighbouring states such as Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and Nagaland have also advocated the need for a negotiated settlement of their border disputes with Assam and discussions with Arunachal Pradesh have already started in this direction,” Mukhi said.
“I am confident that such overtures will further strengthen the spirit of a united Northeast,” he added.