It is not just the opposition Congress Party but the people of the border areas who are unhappy with the way the joint visit by the Meghalaya and Assam Chief Ministers was conducted, Rambrai-Jyrngam MLA Kimfa Marbaniang has said.
The opposition legislator, under whose constituency Langpih falls, was referring to Tuesday’s visit by Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma and his Assam counterpart Himanta Biswa Sarma to the hotly-disputed area.
“They should have visited other areas of difference, like Umwali, Mawsikar, but they just came to one place for an organised event,” Marbaniang said yesterday. “You can’t say that you have an intention to resolve the issue when you are just standing and talking on a stage instead of actually visiting the areas.”
The much-publicised trip to Langpih could well be a political gimmick with a view towards upcoming elections, Marbaniang feared. If the government is really serious about resolving the disputes, it must order the regional border committees to take the opinions of the residents on the ground, he added.
His comments were echoed by Rambrai-Jyrngam MDC, Bajop Pyngrope, who is also of the Congress.
Representatives from the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council were not included in the regional border committees as Sangma said that their work was part of the state government’s “homework” but that they would be included when discussions with other stakeholders take place.
However, Pyngrope expressed dismay that local representatives like him were not invited because they are from the Congress and not the ruling alliance.
