NONGSTOIN/TURA, April 11: Several local organisations from Garo Hills and Khasi Hills regions along with more than 500 residents of Malangkona and its adjoining areas in West Khasi Hills attended a public meeting in the campus of a school in Simanaguri rallying for the scrapping of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) on disputed border areas signed by the chief ministers of Meghalaya and Assam.
Besides the organisations which include Garo Students’ Union (GSU) CEC Tura, ADE, AYWO, Tura Senior Citizens Forum, GSU Khasi Hills Zone and KSU Riangdo Circle, members of Nonglang Sirdarship were also present during the public meeting.
In the meeting, Garo Hills-based group leaders provided assurance to the public that they will meet with Chief Minister of Meghalaya Conrad Sangma and demand of the government to revoke the border MoU.
If the CM fails to meet the demand, the groups said they will hold a series of agitation programmes in different parts of Garo Hills and Khasi Hills regions affected by the MoU. KSU members of Riangdo Circle have extended full support to the Garo Hills-based groups in their stand on the issue.
At the meeting, it was informed that Garo Hills-based Mother’s Union and other women organisations will hold a meeting with the women of the border areas and discuss the issue on Tuesday. These groups have also decided to hold a peace rally from Simanaguri to Sildubi village on Wednesday.
Meanwhile in Garo Hills, the GSU CEC led by Zikku Balgra N Marak while opposing the MoU has resolved that not an inch of Meghalaya’s soil would be handed over to Assam, even as it vowed that it would fight for the people who want to be a part of Meghalaya.
The union, while condemning both the state governments for their hasty and ill-planned resolution, said that the final outcome has turned out to be a far bigger problem than a solution.
“This very clearly displays failure, lack of understanding of the issue and its consequences as well as lack of empathy towards their own people. Most importantly, it shows the incapability of the state government to resolve critical matters with minimal loss and damage,” GSU CEC president Zikku Balgra N Marak said.