Give and take not part of agenda, says WKH border panel chief

Shillong, Jan 24: The chairperson of regional commitee on West Khasi Hills border, Renikton Lyngdoh Tongkhar said the much tacked about give and take policy was not part of guiding principles while discussing solution to the border dispute.

The Congress in Meghalaya and Assam is against give and take principle while dealing with the border issue.

Speaking to reporters on Monday, Renikton said the agreement will be disclosed by the chief minister once the Centre accepts the decision of both the governments.

He admitted that the government could not announce the decision on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of statehood on January 21 as the Ministry of Home Affairs wanted to study the agreement.

“The Centre would not have any problem since both the states have accepted the agreement”, he said.

To a question, the cabinet minister said the government wishes to resolve the dispute in other six areas of difference before the Assembly polls.

However, he said, “I can’t assure you whether the remaining areas can be settled before the 2023 Assembly polls but it will be great if we can do that.” 

       HSPDP chief blames previous govts 

The Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP) president KP Pangniang has blamed the past governments both at the centre and the state for the long pending boundary dispute between Meghalaya and Assam.

Speaking to reporters, Pangniang said the 12 areas of difference shared between the two states should have been settled prior the declaration of the Meghalaya statehood in 1972.

According to him, it is a shame that even after 50 years of statehood ‘we are still hoping to get our permanent interstate boundary’.

“The failure of the past governments is the reason why even after 50 years of statehood, Meghalaya’s boundary is in a critical condition,” he said.

It was also the failure of the central government at that time as it should have ensured that the boundary is put in place while declaring Meghalaya statehood, he said.

“I believe that within this year’s golden jubilee celebrations, Meghalaya will finally get its permanent boundary,” he said.

To a question on the adverse stand of the Congress in Assam to the move of the two state governments, Pangniang said, “In fact, it is the failure of the Congress government in Assam to see that all these problems are resolved before the declaration of Meghalaya state in 1972,” he said.