SHILLONG, April 26: The Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) will move the court challenging the MoU which was signed between Meghalaya and Assam governments to resolve their boundary disputes in six of the 12 areas.
The Council constituted a coordination committee, to be headed by Executive Member Jambor War, to prepare a report on the MoU before moving the court.
The other members of the committee include the Council’s leader of Opposition, Pynshngain N Syiem, along with representatives from the five Himas – Hima Jirang, Hima Nongspung, Hima Mylliem, Hima Jyrngam and Hima Nonglang – affected by the MoU.
After a meeting of the Council’s boundary committee on Tuesday, Syiem said the Council would file a petition in the court opposing the MoU once the boundary committee studies the report of the coordination committee. “We have to seek redressal from the court as the state government is adamant to not review the MoU,” he said.
Syiem said the KHADC will approach the court on the grounds that the boundary of the state depends on the boundary of the Khasi states.
He said it has been clearly mentioned in the Assam Reorganization Act, 1965 that the boundary of the autonomous state will be as defined in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.
According to him, the North East Reorganization Act, 1971 also states that the boundary of the new state Meghalaya would be as per Section 3 of the Assam Reorganization Act.
Another member of the boundary committee and nominated MDC, Bindo Lanong, said everything will come to a standstill once the matter reaches the court.
Voicing dissatisfaction over the MoU, War said the Council will fight to retain the lands given to Assam based on the MoU.
“The MoU signed was neither as per the KHADC’s recommendations submitted to the Meghalaya government nor was it as per the reports of the two regional committees of West Khasi Hills and Ri-Bhoi sectors,” he said.
“There are many lapses in the agreement. Historical facts and figures were ignored. The District Council is the repository of such historical facts and figures, and so, it should have been consulted. That is the reason why the affected people are protesting against this agreement,” War further said.
Executive Member in-charge Elaka, Jambor War, said that the Council is moving the court against the MoU since the state government seeks to transfer lands falling under the jurisdiction of the five Himas to Assam.
Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma had signed the MoU with his Assam counterpart, Himanta Biswa Sarma, in New Delhi.
Metbah to talk border pact with CM
Under fire for doing too little, too late on the demand for a revisit of the boundary MoU inked between Assam and Meghalaya, UDP president Metbah Lyngdoh, on Tuesday, said that he will discuss the issue with Chief Minister Conrad Sangma.
“I am waiting for Chief Minister and I will discuss with him as all sections of people are expressing their concern on the boundary issue. I will have a word with him but it is up to the government and him to examine the matter and all the concerns addressed by different groups,” said Lyngdoh.
Asked if he stands for revisiting the areas of disgruntlement, he said, “If I do not know the head or tail, how will I say revisit or not? Let me listen to the other side also.”
He said that he has seen media reports about the issue.
On reports that the MoU is not in sync with the report submitted by the West Khasi Hills regional committee on interstate border, Lyngdoh said, “That is why I said I will definitely sit with the Chief Minister and discuss.”
It may be mentioned that the UDP had earlier demanded the government to revisit the areas of disgruntlement that arose after the MoU was inked between the two states. However, both the chief ministers of Assam and Meghalaya have clearly stated that revisiting the MoU is not an option as the ball is in the Centre’s court.