SHILLONG, May 29: Nongpoh MLA Mayralborn Syiem, who was part of the Ri Bhoi regional committee on interstate boundary, has maintained that there is still room for a reconsideration of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) by the governments of Meghalaya and Assam since it is the Parliament that has the final say.
Arguing that signing of MoU does not finalise anything, Syiem however said that cannot have a say on the MoU as it was signed at the chief minister level and not regional level.
“One has to understand what we, being members of the regional committee, have submitted the report to the government. The land which belongs to Meghalaya, as per documentary proof by the district council, the traditional heads, Himas or Raid, and Durbar Shnong, has to be with Meghalaya, especially keeping in mind the sentiments as well as the traditions and cultures of the people of Meghalaya,” he said.
The MLA also suggested that if there are MoU-related concerns that need to be addressed then the government should take everyone on board for a revisit and have a word with the Union Home Ministry before the MoU is sent to the Parliament and any final decision is taken.
“We have to understand that the MoU will go to the Parliament and they will have the final say on whether the same should be accepted or revisited. So, there is a plenty of scope to revisit (the MoU) and have more space for stakeholders, and we should consider this,” Syiem said.
On a query about government continuing to rule out the review of the MoU, he reiterated that the ball is in the court of the Parliament.
“I do not think MoU is final once you sign it; it becomes final once the Parliament decides to make it final. Maybe the Parliament will set up boundary commission again for a revisit,” Syiem said.
He also said that the government should not let down its people and if there is any snag in the MoU, reconsideration of the same becomes all-important.
It may be mentioned that some residents of Malangkhona village have threatened to resume their agitation if the Assam-Meghalaya agreement to settle disputes in six sectors along the interstate boundary is not revoked.
A consortium of five pressure groups have also demanded that the National People’s Party-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) Government should review and set aside the MoU
However, after the recent MDA oordination committee meeting, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma had informed that none of the parties in the government are suggesting the need to review the boundary agreement.
