Group vents ire over ‘sorry’ status of 3 villages left out of border MoU

TURA, Jan 27: Close on the heels of Chief Minister Conrad Sangma’s assurance to bring a solution to the border dispute between Meghalaya and Assam, the ADE from Tura on Friday raised the issue of three villages which do not come under the disputed 12 villages but were excluded from Meghalaya as per the border MoU.
The association in a statement, while appreciating the government’s efforts to bring a solution to the 12 villages locked in dispute between Meghalaya and Assam, pointed out villages such as Malangkona Joypur, Malangkona Salbari and Malangkona Huhuapara were excluded from Meghalaya in the MoU.
“These villages have never remained in the disputed area and the people of these villages are inhabitants of Meghalaya since the origin of this state. From the time unknown, Malangkona area is known to be the land (A’king) of the N. Sangmas (Nongbak A’king). The British declared this region under the Sixth Schedule and therefore no dispute should surface regarding its adherence to Meghalaya. Why were these villages offered to Assam on a silver plate? Is something running behind the curtains about which we are kept in the dark?” ADE president Dalseng Bira Ch Momin said.
Momin pointed out that since the protest was staged by combined organisations in March 2022, requests were made to the government to listen to voices of aggrieved protesters but the plea was ignored. Finally, the MoU was signed without their consent and knowledge. Momin added that during Conrad’s meeting with leaders of organisations both from Garo Hills and Khasi Hills in Shillong, the former had assured to look into the matter and take necessary steps. “However, nothing has been done on the matter till date,” he said, while questioning the genuineness of the promise.
On the claim made by the Chief Minister through social media clips that there had been interaction with people from the affected areas on the issue and that they had willingly accepted Assam citizenship, Momin said that it was ‘not accurate’.
“Villages, which we have mentioned, were never visited but those villages which are accustomed with Assam for many years were visited and it is obvious that they will opt to stay in Assam. But the people from those three villages who are carrying Meghalaya EPICs, are studying in various institutions in Meghalaya, having land registrations of Meghalaya. They offer their services to different government departments and can never accept exclusion from their home state for an erroneous MOU signed in a hurry,” Momin said.
He accused the Chief Minister of working against the interest of the people of the state and indulging in politics only to attract voters.