SHILLONG, May 23: Fourteen months after the Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma and his Assam counterpart Himanta Biswa Sarma signed a memorandum of understanding to resolve the dispute in six “less complicated” areas along the interstate border, the second phase of talks to settle the issues in the remaining six areas between the two states is set to resume on Wednesday.
The remaining six areas of dispute include Langpih, Borduar, Nongwah-Mawtamur, Desh Doomreah, Block- I and Block-II, and Psiar-Khanduli.
The two chief ministers will meet held at the State Guest House at Koinadora, Guwahati, at 11 am.
Apart from the CMs, members of the three regional committees on interstate boundary are also expected to attend the meeting.
Following their meeting in Guwahati, Sangma and Sarma will pay a visit to Block-I and Block-II areas to send a message of peace and restraint.
The two states had signed the MoU on March 29 last year in New Delhi in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah after reaching a consensus on six areas, including Hahim, Gizang, Tarabari, Boklapara, Khanapara-Pilangkata and Ratacherra.
However, following widespread discontent following the signing of the MoU, a case was filed in the High Court of Meghalaya by four traditional chiefs — the Syiem of Hima Jirang, the Acting Syiem of Hima Mylliem, the Sirdar of Nonglang Sirdarship and the Acting Syiem of Hima Nongspung — who alleged that the MoU was signed “without consulting or taking the consent of the traditional chiefs and the concerned Dorbars. They also claimed that the MoU violated provisions of the Sixth Schedule and encroached upon the powers of the autonomous district councils.
The high court ordered an interim stay on the MoU in December last year after which the state government approached the Supreme Court which ordered a stay on the former’s order staying the MoU.
Meanwhile, the Meghalaya Trinamool Congress on Tuesday said it did not have much expectation of a positive outcome from the second phase of border talks.
“The manner in which the first phase of talks was handled, we fear the state is going to lose out on more areas to Assam in the second phase,” TMC vice president George B. Lyngdoh said while adding that the MDA Government does not care about the concerns of the opposition, the aggrieved parties and even citizens of the state.
He said the state government toes the line of the BJP leadership in Assam and Delhi without caring much for its own citizens.
Asked about the TMC’s expectation from the talks, he said, “The state government executed phase one without sharing the MoU. The only outcome will be that we will lose out on more areas to Assam.”
