TURA, April 22: With the state government unwavering in its stand to turn down demands for any possible reexamination of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between Meghalaya and Assam for resolution to the vexed boundary dispute in six of the 12 contested areas, pressure groups from across Garo Hills have now knocked on the doors of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, seeking a review of the MoU.
Amid the rampant amplification of the dissent to border MoU, pressure groups from across Garo Hills — GSU, FKJGP, AYWO, ADE, FAF, NTDF and GGU — on Friday petitioned the Union Home Minister for a review of the MoU on the interstate boundary row, which was recently signed by Meghalaya and Assam. In a memorandum to Shah, which was submitted through Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, the groups pointed out that the settlement as per the MoU did not go down well with the people, as grave injustice was meted out to the inhabitants of many villages in Meghalaya along the interstate borders.
“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 (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 said.
Maintaining that there was a five-principle formula that was laid down before entering into an understanding for peaceful settlement to the interstate border differences, the groups, however, alleged that none of the principles were taken into considerations before signing the MoU.
“Meghalaya is still supposed to get some more areas due to the fact that there had been residual issues since the creation of Meghalaya 50 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 groups, while urging the Union Home Minister to take up the matter with the Chief Ministers of Meghalaya and Assam, also sought the withdrawal of the MoU, followed by a fresh settlement or preparation of an MoU acceptable to all on the lines of aspiration of people.
It may be mentioned that the memorandum to Shah was submitted following a meeting at New Tura Playground near Araimile during which leaders of various pressure groups vehemently voiced their dissent to the MoU. Albeit a procession from the meeting venue to the Chief Minister’s Office at Dakopgre was contemplated earlier, the same had to be cancelled in view of the bad weather.
