Cabinet minister Renikton Lyngdoh Tongkhar has continued to defend the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed by Meghalaya and Assam to resolve Phase 1 of the border negotiations between the two states.
Speaking today, Tongkhar said that the Meghalaya Democratic Association government had not made a mistake in signing the agreement and that no other government could have secured such a deal for the state.
Phase 1 talks concerned around 36 sq km of land, of which around half was awarded to Meghalaya. However, residents in some of the areas that were awarded to Assam have been protesting the agreement and they have received support from opposition parties, the KHADC, pressure groups and other parties.
Tongkhar said that the MDA dared to take a decision that, while not perfect, is the best that could be achieved, with “most” people happy with the settlement.
“It has been done and whatever we do I can’t say any other government will be able to do better than what we have done,” the minister, who was involved in the border demarcation as he was the chairman of the West Khasi Hills regional committee, claimed.
