The state unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today criticised the Congress Party for not being able to solve the interstate boundary dispute between Meghalaya and Assam during all the many years in which it was in power at both the state and central levels.
State BJP president Ernest Mawrie today said that the Congress is still critical of the success of Chief Minister Conrad Sangma and his Assam counterpart Himanta Biswa Sarma (of the BJP), who have done a deal to resolve the first phase of the border dispute. The BJP is a junior partner in the Meghalaya government led by Sangma.
“The Congress for the last 50 years mostly ruled both Meghalaya and Assam and in spite of its presence at Centre, it dragged the inter-state border issue for their political benefits,” Mawrie said at a press conference here today. “I need to appreciate our Chief Minister Conrad Sangma who has shown keen interest with the Chief Minister of Assam, Himanta Biswa Sarma. In a short span of time, six out of 12 issues have been settled between Assam and Meghalaya”.
Acknowledging that there are still small disputes remaining from the first phase, Mawrie said, “Both states are working to get permanent solutions. So, we can say that 60 per cent of the border dispute between Assam and Meghalaya has already been resolved.”
He added a hope that all outstanding issues will be sorted out this year.
Mawrie also recalled that Prime Minister Narendra Modi (also of the BJP) emphasised the need to resolve inter-state border disputes in the North East after he returned to power for a second term in 2019. Resolution would help bring about further development of the North East, the BJP feels.
Another way to normalise the situation in the region is to bring an end to militancy in the North East, which the central government is focused on, he added.
“I also appreciate the state government’s efforts to bring the Hynñiewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) to the peace table. As the process is in full swing, I hope within a short period we will get the good news about the matter,” Mawrie said.
On the economy, the state party chief praised the Centre in helping Meghalaya’s dream of becoming a $10 billion economy by 2028 a reality thanks to new road projects, increased air connectivity, medical sector development, etc.
