Shillong, July 6: Speaker Metbah Lyngdoh discussed the Meghalaya-Assam border dispute with the chief minister of the neighbouring state, Himanta Biswa Sarma, on Monday.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Lyngdoh, who is also the president of the United Democratic Party (UDP), said he called on Sarma in Guwahati to congratulate him on the new role. They also discussed the interstate border impasse.
According to Lyngdoh, both the leaders agreed that people residing in the border areas are in distress and the “issue” needs a fast solution.
The Assam-Meghalaya border dispute has been going on for over five decades and instances of encroachment and violence have been frequent.
The UDP chief also asserted that to resolve the border dispute, all stakeholders need to be taken into confidence.
“All stakeholders have to be taken into consideration (before taking a decision on whether to go with the give and take policy) to ensure we clear this long pending issue that is my concern and advise as far as this issue is concerned,” he said.
He urged leaders to abstain from playing politics over the “serious issue” that requires “sincere efforts”.
In a Twitter message posted on July 5, Sarma wrote, “Met Hon Speaker, Meghalaya Assembly, Sri Metbah Lyngdoh in Guwahati. Among others, we discussed values of Parliamentary democracy as well as how to ensure decorum of the august House. Many look up to deliberations in the Assembly, and we must keep aspirations of people in mind.”
