SHILLONG, April 30: The state BJP, a constituent of the NPP-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance on Saturday said it did not sign up for unrest and trouble but for finding an amicable solution to the vexed boundary dispute between Assam and Meghalaya.
“All the coalition partners discussed and decided unanimously to solve the issue of the disputed area and not create trouble for the people residing there,” senior BJP leader and advisor to the chief minister, AL Hek, said while reacting to Chief Minister Conrad Sangma’s statement that the coalition partners should support the decision of the government on the issues as they are part and parcel of decision-making.
He said they had discussed the disputed areas in the cabinet and at other high-level meetings but the border residents have complained about undisputed areas being given to Assam. “We are here to govern and so we have to listen to the voices of the people,” he said.
On Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma’s statement that individuals and not political parties have been opposing the border settlement, Hek said: “I speak not as an individual but on behalf of the people, particularly those residing in the disputed areas.”
He trashed the perception that political parties were resorting to double standards by speaking against the government while being part of the interstate boundary dispute resolving process.
“The voices of the people should be heard and their issues have to be taken up not only with Assam and Meghalaya but also with the central level,” he said.