Shillong, Aug 6: The Chief Ministers’ Level talk on Assam – Meghalaya border was held on Friday between both the States at Assam Administrative Staff College in Guwahati. The Meghalaya delegation was led by Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma.
Briefing the media after the meeting in Guwahati, the Meghalaya Chief Minister thanked his counterpart Himanta Biswa Sarma for hosting the Chief Ministers’ Level talk in Guwahati.
“We are very happy that the meeting was very constructive and positiveâ€, Sangma said, while adding, “We have been very clear from both the Governments that we want to resolve the area of differences and the disputes that are there between the two States. It has been very long and a lot of people have suffered in different areas because of these differences that have existedâ€.
He said that both the States have strong political will to find an amicable solution to these areas of differences.
“We have agreed that whatever we do, it must be done in a respectful manner and both the states need to respect each other. Today in the meeting, we had a detailed presentation given by the Government of Assam, on six areas of the differences that are there out of twelve. The strategy which both the State Governments have agreed to follow, is to take up these matters in a phase-wise mannerâ€, he said.
He informed that the areas, which are slightly less complicated, will be taken up for resolving to begin with. The six areas out of 12, which will be taken up are – Tarabari, Gizang, Hahim, Boklapara, Khanapara – Philangkata and Ratachera.
“These six areas are what we have decided that we will move towards finding an amicable solution. We have also decided that there will be regional committees that will be formed by both the states, which will be headed by a cabinet minister,†he added.
The committee will comprise of five members each from both the States and will be notified by the respective States. In each committee, a cabinet minister will be part of the delegation, which will visit the area of differences jointly and submit its report in the next meeting, which will be held within the next 30 days either in Shillong or Guwahati.
“Each committee will be headed by one cabinet minister and we have decided also that we will focus on number one, historical facts, number two ethnicity, number three administrative convenience, number four willingness and the overall sense of the people’s sentiments and number five contiguity,†the Chief Minister added.
Meanwhile, the Assam Chief Minister said that once the six areas of difference are resolved, both the States will move forward to resolve other areas of differences.
In the next 30 days, the Chief Ministers of both the States will also jointly visit Langpih to send a message that both the States are keen to resolve all areas of differences between Assam and Meghalaya.
“We assure the people that both the States are committed to resolve the complicated issues as well. However, we will start from less complicated issues and will move towards more complicated issues,†Sarma said.
Others from Meghalaya who attended the meeting were, Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong and other Cabinet Ministers – Sniawbhalang Dhar, Lahkmen Rymbui, Renikton Lyngdoh, Banteidor Lyngdoh, Hamletson Dohling, Brolding Nongsiej, Sanbor Shullai, Dasakhiat Lamare and Kyrmen Shylla.
