By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, March 25: Peeved with the prolonged inaction over the Meghalaya-Assam border issue, residents in the disputed areas have refused to participate in elections conducted in Assam for years now, maintaining that voting would create the impression of accepting Assam’s jurisdiction even as their demand for the re-transfer of Block I to Meghalaya remains unresolved.
Supporting the position on the ground, KHNAM leader Thomas Passah, who is also the spokesperson of the border panel, said the boycott is a conscious and collective decision taken by residents despite the practical difficulties they face, including documentation requirements such as EPIC and Aadhaar.
Passah indicated that people are standing firm, choosing not to engage in any Assam-related electoral process as they believe participation would send the wrong political signal. He conveyed that the boycott is rooted in the hope that the Meghalaya government will acknowledge their stance and initiate steps towards reclaiming Block I.
He further suggested that there is a strong perception among residents that casting votes in Assam would imply that they have aligned with the neighbouring state, something the community is determined to avoid while the dispute remains unsettled.
The development follows earlier concerns flagged by Hynniewtrep Border Dispute Redressal Forum (HBARF) Chairman Chandame Sungoh, who had alleged that members of the Khasi-Pnar community are being engaged during elections in Assam to campaign for political parties, including the Congress, the BJP and the National People’s Party. He had termed the practice dangerous, warning that it could influence local residents and weaken the collective position taken on the border issue.
