Chief Minister Conrad Sangma today defended keeping the exact text of the memorandum of understanding signed Meghalaya and Assam to resolve the border under wraps for now, saying it was crucial to avoid misunderstandings.
On Monday, the CM presented a synopsis of the agreement, which is still awaiting the nod from the central government. However, the whole of Meghalaya, from opposition MLAs, MDCs, pressure groups and the public are still awaiting the chance to study the agreement themselves.
It is suspected that the government fears that allowing everyone access to it would only spur protests against the deal, which could derail proceedings. Yesterday, an opposition MDC, Charles Marngar, opposed giving away the Assam State Transport Corporation transit camp in Khanapara to the neighbouring state.
Today, opposition MLA George Lyngdoh questioned why the agreement could not be put in the public domain immediately.
Sangma assured the house that details will be shared at the appropriate time. Why they cannot be shared now, he said, is that it could result in misunderstanding as the agreement involves fine details.
To back this up, he cited a complicated example about the Gizang Reserve Forest, which on Monday the CM said would go to Assam along with the village of Malsapara. Exactly where the forest ends (as well as a buffer zone) still needs to be determined, Sangma said, so he cannot make a clear statement on this without a risk of misleading the Assembly.
