United Democratic Party (UDP) General Secretary and former legislator, Jemino Mawthoh, today said that despite the challenges, the citizens of the state need to be optimistic and dream of a resurgent Meghalaya.
With Meghalaya celebrating its 49th year of attaining statehood tomorrow, Mawthoh said that a lot has been achieved, though plenty needs to be done in these changing times and situations.
On the issue of the long pending boundary dispute with Assam, the UDP leader said that there has to be sincerity at all levels and between the two states and the central government.
Mawthoh informed that, since the inception of the state, around 20 meetings have been held at the Chief Minister level and 10 meetings at the Chief Secretary level on the issue.
“We can say that it is not a simple affair that can be solved overnight. However, if we really try to understand the ground reality and the unfortunate incidents happening from time to time, we cannot be complacent and sleep on the issue,” he said.
According to Mawthoh, the state government needs to pursue the matter relentlessly so that it can be solved amicably, by give and take if necessary.
“If we keep it lying down and if mutual respect is not there, unpleasant skirmishes and strained relations will continue and may become aggravated in future. To settle the boundary dispute we need to build bridges instead of walls in the dialogue process,” he added.
As far as the Inner Line Permit and inclusion of the Khasi and Garo languages in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution are concerned, Mawthoh said that the party was hopeful that something positive will come about this year.
