Shillong Jan 21: The Khasi Students Union on Monday put up banners everywhere in the city and other districts of the state expressing sadness as Meghalaya has completed 47 years of statehood without boundary with Assam, even as Chief Minister, Conrad K. Sangma said that the issue is not that easy to resolve due to various challenges.

The issue related to inter-state boundary between Meghalaya and Assam ha been pending with solution ever since Meghalaya carved out of Assam in 1972.

KSU activists put up banners which contained writings that reminded the people of the  state and the state government about the state has been created sans boundary.

The  KSU also expressed worry over the failure of various governments to tackle influx  problem and implement laws that can protect the indigenous prople

In the premises of the State Central Library where the statehood day function was organised at U Soso Tham, the KSU banners were also placed.

In some of the banners, the KSu said, “we are happy for having our own state, but it is sad that we are not owners of it. Government comes and goes in 47 years, but where are developments and laws to check influx? Where are the rights of the indigenous?”

In another banner, the KSU asked, “How many more years we will have a state without boundary? Forty seven years of statehood without boundary, are we happy or will we resolve this problem?”

There are 12 areas of difference, and in 2011, the Meghalaya government had submitted documents to Assam to support its claim over the areas.

The KSU also put up banners opposing the Citizenship Amendment Bill, 2016 being moved by the BJP-led NDA government to implement in the country to grant citizenship to immigrants from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan.

After the function, the Chief Minister told reporters that the inter-state boundary dispute has been an issue since inception of the state and successive governments have faced different challenges with regards to this issue.

“This (problem) continues till now, and there are lots of challenges that the people at the border are facing. From the government side, discussions are always on, and whenever there are issues that come up in the border area, chief secretaries of the two states were always in touch with each other. On multiple occasions, I have had discussion at the official level with my counterpart. Therefore our efforts are on, and it is not something that is very easy to resolve as there are lot of challenges,” Conrad said.

He said that only through proper discussion, solution could be found out.

“It (the problem) has been going on for many years, but we are committed to ensure that we move forward and find a way acceptable to all,” the Chief Minister said.