SHILLONG, May 9: The NPP-led MDA Government seems to be firm on its commitment of “no retreat, no surrender” on the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed with Assam.
NPP state president, WR Kharlukhi on Monday said there would be no reconsideration of the MoU. He added that he had recently discussed the matter with Deputy Chief Minister, Prestone Tynsong.
Kharlukhi recalled that the issue was hanging fire for 50 years and all efforts made by the previous government resulted in the status quo.
The status quo meant that Assam encroached into areas falling under Meghalaya while Meghalaya continued to retreat, he said. “We did not want to continue with the status quo and decided to move ahead,” he said.
Attacking former chief minister, Mukul Sangma, Kharlukhi said that he (Mukul) had done nothing to resolve the issue despite holding the CM’s post for eight years.
“Now, Dr Mukul is trying to prevent us when we are making efforts to resolve this issue. I will not be wrong in saying that the real objective of TMC is to mislead the citizens of Meghalaya,” Kharlukhi, who is also a Rajya Sabha member, said.
Meanwhile, residents of Malangkona in West Khasi Hills have called a meeting on May 16 to discuss the MoU signed by the two state governments.
The meeting will be held at the Malang Saminaguri playground at 1 pm.
The Malangkona Joint Action Committee has invited various organisations of the state including those from Garo Hills to attend the meeting and lend support to the residents’ fight against the Meghalaya government’s decision to give the village to Assam.
