The memorandum was submitted following a meeting held at New Tura Playground near Araimile where leaders of the various groups strongly voiced their opposition to the MoU. It was earlier also planned to take out a procession from the meeting venue to the CMO (Chief Minister’s Office) at Dakopgre before submitting the memorandum. However, the same had to be cancelled due to bad weather.
The memorandum, submitted through Chief Minister Conrad Sangma pointed out that the settlement as per the MoU did not go down well with the people, as grave injustice was done to the inhabitants of many villages in Meghalaya, along the inter-state borders with many villages and areas now coming under Assam.
“The negotiations between the two Chief Ministers have been made without actually taking the factual positions of the areas and without taking the people into their confidence. The agreement between the two Chief ministers has been made in haste without going into ground realities and without adequate consultations and consents of the inhabitants nor taking views, opinions and consents of the custodians of areas of the land i.e. the Autonomous District Councils in spite of the fact that the affected portions of land fall under the Sixth Schedule Areas.
The action is also tantamount to disrespect to the ADC authorities. We strongly oppose and reject the agreement, and fervently request you to prevail upon the Chief Ministers of the two states to review and revoke the MoU immediately,” the memorandum stated.
Stating that there was a 5-principle formula that was laid down for peaceful settlement of the differences on the inter-state border areas between the two states for entering into this MoU, the groups however, said that none of the principles have been sincerely taken into considerations while entering into MoU.
“Meghalaya is still supposed to get some more areas due to the fact that there had been residual issues since the creation of the State of Meghalaya 50 (fifty) years back as demands for inclusion of areas up to certain level of boundary are yet to be settled; more areas from its territory are being given away to Assam.
The move is not acceptable and is opposable by all concerned. All the areas given away to Assam as per the MoU must be retrieved and status-quo is maintained till amicable solution is arrived between the two states. Not a single inch of our land should be given away to Assam or any other state without justification,” the memorandum demanded.
The combined groups, while urging the Home Minister to take up the matter with the Chief Ministers of the two states also sought the withdrawal of the MoU and a fresh settlement or MoU acceptable to all on the lines of aspirations of the people is prepared at the earliest.