TURA, April 5: The recent meeting of residents of the Tarabari sector in West Khasi Hills (WKH) was one of angst being brought forward by a populace that had hoped to be a part of Meghalaya. The anger came over the MoU signed between Assam and Meghalaya bringing to an end the 50-year-old border dispute in six of the 12 areas of difference.
As was put forward by Williamnagar MDC, Alphonsush Marak during the meeting, the residents of those areas who now have been deemed a part of Assam, stand to lose a lot more than they can possibly gain. He pointed out that land under the Sixth Schedule is now going to be put up in the open market. Further benefits of being a part of an indigenous state would also fly out of the window.
While the anger was apparent, what was also startling was that many areas in Meghalaya, which were never a part of the boundary dispute, somehow found themselves in the disputed list.
One of the most startling errors in the MoU is that two villages, that are actually part of North Garo Hills, have suddenly come up in the list of disputed territories in West Khasi Hills. The two villages, Dabolpara and Rangkhet are actually part of the Kharkutta constituency in NGH.
“I am surprised that these villages are mentioned in the MoU as they never figured in the interstate dispute. It appears that these villages have been added to make it look like the land transfer was equal for both states whereas it actually gave prime land to Assam while leaving us with nothing,” said Kharkutta MDC, Cherak Momin, who was also a part of Monday’s meeting.
Besides the two villages, many others like Mallang Siminaguri, Dobakdrop, Lejadubi and Thangkhola in the Tarabari, Boko and Hahim sectors have been questionably mentioned in the MoU.
“It seems there has been a very concerted effort by the Meghalaya government and the administration to sweeten the deal for the state by putting in names of villages that were never in dispute. These villages are indicative of the fact that shoddy work has been passed off as genuine ones. To those who did this, I would like to ask them to look up the word ‘dispute’ before making such claims,” said a resident of the area.
Many have now developed an opinion that the exercise may have been an eyewash and names of undisputed villages included to make it seem like Meghalaya got a great deal and the bargain struck was one of balance. However if these non disputed areas are taken out of the equation, it becomes apparent that Meghalaya has got itself a raw deal.
The fact that areas in WKH and even NGH have been included despite never being in dispute has raised the suspicion that there may be other areas where similar exercises may have also been taken up.
Another area that has taken many local residents of Mallangkona by surprise is the fact that Mallang Salbari, which was never even a disputed area has gone into Assam, with only about 4-5 households coming to the state.
A local leader expressed surprise over the inclusion of Salbari in Assam and felt sane heads need to work out the mistakes and a compromise reached in such a way that both states can in reality get an equal share in an unbiased manner.
While Chief Minister, Conrad Sangma may have become the target of the anger, one cannot squarely blame him for the alleged fracas. Many others, including the local administration, legislators of the areas in contention also need to share the blame of what has transpired.
“Mukul Sangma, even during the discussion on the issue of various parties had asked the state government not to hurry into a decision. It needed more thought and more ground work but none listened. Now you can see the consequences,” said Mendipathar MLA, Marthon Sangma.
Many teary-eyed residents, mostly women, blamed the entire fracas on the Conrad Sangma government while asserting that they would fight till their last breath but not join Assam.
“He is the one responsible for what is happening to us. We are being alienated from our own state and we have been given toilets while Assam got the government offices and prime lands. The leaders need to come down and visit to see what they have done to us,” added the women.
While many believe the only way to fight what has been done may be through the Courts, others felt that the memorandum could still be changed until the actual demarcation began. For that of course, Conrad and his Assam counterpart, Himanta Biswa Sarma will need another sitting.
Whether that will happen or is even possible will be a tale that only time narrates.
