Shillong, May 29: MDA government spokesperson and chairman of the regional border committee for West Khasi Hills Paul Lyngdoh has said border talks can go on but Assam will not make any major decisions in view of the upcoming Assembly polls.
Chief Minister Conrad Sangma and his Assam counterpart Himanta Biswa Sarma will meet on June 2 in Guwahati to discuss the border dispute and other issues affecting both the states.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Lyngdoh said, “Talks are about to resume but nothing large-scale or spectacular will happen before the end of the electioneering process”.
Assam is yet to join Meghalaya to visit Langpih sector jointly due to the upcoming Assembly elections in the state.
According to Lyngdoh, the report prepared by his committee is ready for submission to the state government but the joint visit by the regional committees of Meghalaya and Assam to Langpih is still pending.
“The response from the Assam counterpart has not been forthcoming probably because of the fact that they had the Panchayat elections and Assembly elections are due. With elections at the doorstep, it is very unlikely that they would want to risk any major decision that might tilt the electorate against the current dispensation.In fact our reports are ready. What is pending is the field visit to Langpih, which we had agreed when we last met at hotel Pinewood..This has not materialised because of the elections”.
Earlier, a delegation of the Raid Mynsaw led by Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP) president KP Pangniang submitted a memorandum to Lyngdoh regarding the need to resolve dispute in Langpih.
Speaking to reporters, Pangniang, who is also member of the regional committee, said that a public meeting, held at Langpih on April 19 and attended by headmen, local leaders, villagers and public representatives after thorough discussion unanimously resolved to urge the government to resume the talk regarding Langpih sector, which is one of six remaining areas of difference to be resolved under second phase of border talks with Assam.
