Cabinet minister Renikton Lyngdoh Tongkhar today appealed to Assam to act like a parent towards Meghalaya and gift the disputed border areas to its ‘child’.
Tongkhar is the head of the regional committee responsible for West Khasi Hills’ disputed border regions.
Since Meghalaya was carved out of Assam in 1972, the latter could be seen to be the parent.
The two states are currently involved in a process to sort out the border dispute, which covers 12 major areas, six of which, it is hoped by the Meghalaya government, will be solved by January 21, the 50th anniversary of Meghalaya statehood.
“Meghalaya attained its statehood from Assam. If they (Assam) had given up such a big area in the form of Meghalaya, a few more small areas of difference should be no problem,” the minister said, adding that Assam needed to have a “big heart”.
The contents of the regional committees’ reports are still under wraps and Tongkhar remained mum on the matter.
However, while admitting that land is a sensitive issue and it would not be easy for Assam to hand over territory to Meghalaya, or vice versa, he hoped that a peaceful settlement could be made before Meghalaya’s golden jubilee.
“We hope that whatever decisions are made, these should be in favour of the people residing in the border areas,” he added.
