No Meghalaya land should go to Assam: UDP

SHILLONG, June 18: UDP senior leader and Nongpoh MLA, Mayralborn Syiem on Tuesday called for resumption of the second phase of border talks to resolve the state’s boundary dispute with Assam which has been halted for a long time.
Syiem is a member of the Ri-Bhoi Regional Committee on border issue.
Stating that skirmishes are being reported frequently from the disputed areas, he said it is the government’s duty to maintain peace and tranquility in the state.
He said Assam is flexing its muscles but “we are not ready to give even an inch of our land to the neighbouring state.”
Stating that no dispute can be resolved a hundred per cent, Syiem pointed out that the committee will do its best to ensure the outcome is in the interest of the state’s indigenous population.
On the resumption of the talks, he said the dispute has to be resolved at the earliest. He said they are hopeful that the talks, which were affected due to the elections, will resume soon.
He said both sides are trying to have a meeting to hold further discussions. The members of the committee want to have a thorough discussion and visit every disputed area, he said.
Assam and Meghalaya share an 885-km long border. Currently, the dispute is in six areas.
The chief ministers of the two states had plans to visit the disputed areas under the second phase of talks but that has not materialised yet.