UDP leader, Jemino Mawthoh has showered praises on the MDA government and lauded it for its bold initiatives in resolving the long-pending border dispute with Assam and said it has gone ten steps forward to put the issue to rest.
“I respect all the perspectives but the fact is for the last so many years, the boundary dispute issue was raked up from time to time. In the past, there were 20 meetings at the chief secretary and 10 at the chief minister levels besides other meetings. But nothing came out of these deliberations and tension and unpleasant things keep on happening in the border areas,” he said, adding, “Unlike the present MDA government who have taken bold initiatives of first resolving the six areas of differences in the first phase of the boundary talks with Assam.”
“This government has taken the initiative by forming the boundary committees and going to ground level and soliciting the views of the people residing in the border and also took the bold initiative of resolving the six areas of differences which in itself is a step forward,” he told Highland Post.
He said that people, groups, and the individual may have different stands and perspectives on the matter, but the fact remains that the past successive governments have not been able to take up to this level despite so many meetings held.
“I think both the governments of Assam and Meghalaya needs to be appreciated and lauded. Let’s not have the apprehension that we will gain in the first phase and lose more in the second phase but take one step at a time and deal with it accordingly,” Mawthoh said.
He further said that at the end of the day since the boundary talk is in the interest of the common people the views and consent of the people residing in the conflict areas should be respected as they know best.
