Disappointed with TMC’s response to border resolution: Meghalaya CM

Shillong: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma and Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong expressed disappointment at the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) for trying to fault the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance’s (MDA) efforts to resolve the long-pending border issue between Assam and Meghalaya.

AITC MLA Zenith Sangma alleged that people’s consent wasn’t taken into consideration in the four interstate bordering villages of Pillangkata, Maikhuli, Barapathar, and Iongkuli.

Zenith had alleged that the CM and the minister in the Assembly had stated that the people’s consent would be taken before signing the MoU, but after visiting ground zero, he understood that the (govt) have misled, misguided, and taken the Meghalaya people for a ride.

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Reacting to this, the chief minister said he doesn’t think there have been more detailed consultations with the stakeholders than what they did in the last six months.

“It’s quite unfortunate to see Opposition bringing this issue up and saying that there should have been a stakeholders consultation,” stated Sangma. He added that earlier there was no stakeholders consultation, but for the first time, they went to the locals. It was all done with the people’s will and after discussing with the people that the solution has been reached, he added.

The chief minister once again reiterated his point that it may not be the perfect solution that everybody in the state would want, but this is one of the best solutions that the government could reach.

“ I’ve maintained from day one while we discuss critical matters we cannot change principles as per our needs and desires. The principle has to apply to both Assam and Meghalaya. We went with the principle of the public’s opinion and public’s will hand that is what helped us to reach this spot,” said Sangma.

The chief minister claimed that the majority of stakeholders are happy and the Opposition will have things to say. He said that they should realise it’s not that they have to oppose everything that the government does and instead try to work together.

“People of the state especially border areas have suffered for far too long and development has been affected, peoples lives were put in danger and we can’t go on like this so we had decided to find a solution and with help of MHA and with the cooperation of CM of Assam that we’ve been able to find a solution for the six areas and hopeful will be able to move forward in other six locations also,” mentioned the chief minister.

Deputy chief minister Prestone Tynsong slammed MLA Zenith Sangma for such allegations and said that the MLA doesn’t have any idea since he wasn’t part of the Regional Committee.

Tynsong said, “It is wrong, Zenith Sangma was not part of the regional committee, I was the chairman of the committee we involved all traditional heads and headmen with members of the committee. We made our visit, and we collected all documents from them. Zenith Sangma doesn’t know anything. He is just going there to create political mileage, which is wrong.”

Tynsong further requested Zenith not to indulge in such activities since it is too dirty and no government in the past dared to touch the border issue which was done only by the MDA govt.