Chief Minister Conrad Sangma today maintained that the border pact inked with Assam to resolve the border dispute cannot be revisited.
His statement came after headmen and leaders of disputed villages in Ri Bhoi had gone to the Main Secretariat with an intention to meet the chief minister to air their concerns on the border deal this afternoon. However, they were left disappointed as they were not allowed but sent away from the entrance, even though the chief minister was present in his office.
Later Sangma told reporters that he was not aware that headmen had come to meet him as there was no official appointment made. He said he was open for a discussion and listen to their concerns, but, “the question of revisiting the deal entered does not arise since it was signed before the government of India.”
Sangma said that the present government had worked on the 2011 report submitted by the then government, wherein out of the 23 villages, 21 have come to Meghalaya and two given to Assam.
“The other areas which are now saying that we should change and bring those areas also into Meghalaya were never in the 2011 report,” he added.
The chief minister said it would not be possible for the state to add two other villages as these never asked for it in 2011.
“There are a lot of villages that are saying that they would like to come now but in the 2011 report those villages were never included in the disputed area and the government had clearly mentioned that those villages are in Assam. So today, those villages that are asking us to include them which would be difficult, because they were never put in the report,” he clarified.
Similarly, those under Malangkona village too the chief minister said the map cannot be redrawn. “The villages that are coming in now is above that line drawn in 2011. It is not possible for us to keep changing our demands. If we do change the map, then the credibility of the government also goes away,” he added.
Maikhuli village headman, Kleden Sangma earlier today had said they are hurt by the mistreatment they received at the Secretariat. He maintained that they will never be part of Assam even if they have to protest or knock the doors of the Supreme Court.
Sangma said the headmen have the right to appeal in the court. “I can’t change a report,” he said.
Meanwhile, the chief minister expressed keenness to start talks on the second phase which will be on the other six areas of differences. The second phase is expected to be the most complicated due to the conflicts that has erupted time and again in these areas like Langpih, Block 1 and Block 2.
He said that the official talks may start somewhere in between June and July but in the process they are already discussing one to one level to see the best solution can be reached.
