Hundreds of people took to the streets in Nongstoiñ today to make their voices heard against the border deal that Meghalaya signed earlier this year with Assam.
The protest rally was called by the Hynñiewtrep Youth Council (HYC) to support the Hima Nonglang, who stands to lose areas in Athiabari and Malangkona to Assam.
Residents from the border areas attended the rally which began from Rikhasi Free Morning School New Spengthawlangmlah to the New Nongstoiñ Market Complex raising flags and shouted slogans against the government and its border deal.
Speakers at the rally condemned Chief Minister Conrad Sangma for signing the deal stating he has not consulted the people done proper verification of land documents and historical facts. They said that the educational qualification of the Chief Minister is worthless when he does not know the state borders.
HYC president Robertjune Kharjahrin slammed the Chief Minister and said, “Conrad has disrespected Hill State Movement leaders and volunteers. If he fails again during the second phase of the border talks we will not let him set foot again in the Khasi Jaiñtia Hills.”
Addressing reporters after the rally, Kharjahrin said the visit of the regional committees to the areas of differences to get people’s opinion was tokenism. “While the report submitted by the regional committee in Meghalaya states as per people’s wish, the agreement entered had never taken those into consideration,” he said.
