Leader of the opposition and ex-Chief Minister, Dr Mukul Sangma, led a delegation of the Congress Party on a visit to Ïongkhuli, Ri-Bhoi, which witnessed an attempt by Assam to claim the village as its own last week.
During his visit to assess the law and order situation after the border clash, Dr Sangma strongly condemned the step taken by the Assam government.
He was accompanied on the trip by Nongpoh MLA Mayralborn Syiem, Mawsynram MLA Himalaya Shangpliang, West Shillong MLA Mahindro Rapsang and Ampati MLA Miani D Shira and other Congress workers.
When the Congress was in power in Meghalaya, steps had been initiated to solve the border dispute with Assam and, in this vein, land documents of people residing along the border had been submitted to Assam, Dr Sangma said, but the neighbouring state still delayed settlement of the border question. The proposed ‘give and take’ approach mooted by Assam Chief Minister to sort out the situation cannot override the legality of land documentation, he added.
Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma and Sarma are set to hold a second meeting on the border issue on Friday in Guwahati.
Dr Sangma condemned the Assam encroachment and said that such acts should not be repeated in the future as both states need to respect each other.
