Shillong: Meghalaya’s Opposition Chief Whip PT Sawkmie on Friday has urged the state government that the Assam–Meghalaya border issue should be brought to the Assembly for discussion and consideration before any decisions are made.
Sawkmie, an MLA of Mawlai constituency, said whatever discussions or decisions are reached at, the majority of the people of the state are very clear that “not an inch of land should go to Assam”.
“If there are any areas that has to be given to Assam and vice versa, anything the government decides to give, it should take the Assembly into consideration,” stated Sawkmie.
The MLA agreed that the vexed interstate border row is a complicated issue and will take time to resolve. But he refused to agree with what CM Conrad Sangma had claimed that the past governments had never made an effort to solve the border issue.
He recalled former Meghalaya chief minister AK Mawlong had visited a few of the area of differences along with the then Assam CM in 2021.
“Even past CMs like DD Lapang, Dr Mukul…they have also tried but couldn’t come to a resolution. Today’s government has shown sincerity to solve this issue and we can see that both the CMs are making efforts and are supporting each other,” mentioned Sawkmie.
The Congress MLA also alleged that Assam has encroached upon Meghalaya’s land and that it was also because the past governments did not act on it. “Today the people in the border areas also understand that the government is serious to solve this issue. They are coming forward and are demanding their land that was taken by Assam,” alleged Sawkmie.
Lauding the chief minister’s enthusiasm to solve the issue and the promise of solve disputes in some areas before Christmas, Sawkmie said but that won’t be possible.
He has also urged all political parties, leaders and social social organisation to co-operate and support the government in this move.
“We should let the government proceed with its effort to resolve this border dispute but anything dealing with give and take should be discussed in the Floor of the House,” stated Sawkmie.
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