SHILLONG, Sep 12: The Meghalaya Assembly on Monday witnessed a heated debate between Chief Minister c over the government allegedly ignoring the stakeholders while resolving the border dispute with Assam.
Lyngdoh asked during Question Hour if the stakeholders would be taken on board for the second phase of discussions between the two states since no consultations were held with the stakeholders during the first phase where six of the 12 areas of dispute were officially resolved.
Sangma replied that all stakeholders will be consulted before the government moves ahead on the matter. He also said the Umroi MLA was misleading the House and lying since multiple meetings and public hearings had taken place before the two states inked the MoU on March 29.
Asking Lyngdoh to refrain from making such statements, the CM reminded him that he was sitting inside the House and not at a press conference.
He further said discussions had taken place with the autonomous district councils, MDCs and NGOs during the first phase.
Lyngdoh responded by saying the rules of the House did not allow personal attacks on the members. He pointed out that the district councils and the Himas have been opposing the MoU.
“I want to know if the government will take the House into consideration in the second phase of discussions with Assam,” he said.
In his reply, Sangma said some people may not be happy with the MoU but it does not mean that discussions did not take place with stakeholders. He added that the government would discuss the matter with the MLAs.
Earlier, Lyngdoh questioned the inspection of ponds and holding of meetings in the middle of the night during the phase-one discussions. “The late-night meetings show that the government is committed to the cause,” Sangma replied.
The CM said he does not want anyone to politicise this long-pending matter for which people were having sleepless nights. “If we do that we are going against the interest of our own people,” he added.
