Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma was noncommittal today on the possibility of talks between the Assam and Meghalaya governments to resolve the longstanding border dispute.
Speaking to the media, Sangma said that it is impossible to say with certainty whether the Chief Minister-level talks will take place. They had most recently been delayed because of the Assam state elections and formation of a new government, which was completed in early May.
Despite fresh incursions by Assam, Sangma was effusive when talking about his Assam counterpart, Himanta Biswa Sarma. Last week the two Chief Ministers and their wives dined together in Guwahati where the border issue was discussed informally. Sangma also said that this is a good time to take the discussion on the border forwards since there is a positive relationship between the leaders of Assam and Meghalaya. “We both share equal respect for each other and for our people and for our states,” Sangma said.
Nevertheless, Meghalaya needs to take the bigger picture, the CM stated, when considering the matter and be prepared to make compromises.
“As a government we will do whatever it takes to move this discussion forward and try to find an amicable solution. But then if the solution is not acceptable to our people and us then we will not allow that to overcome the situation and allow Meghalaya to suffer,” the CM said. “What is important is to realise that as a leader we need to sometimes decide on certain things and move forward. History is going to judge us on this moment that we decide or don’t decide.”
The central government is also keen to see that the issue is resolved at the earliest, Sangma said, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah reportedly taking a keen interest in the matter.
Meghalaya is not the only state in the North East to have a border dispute with Assam, which is in the unique position of sharing a boundary with all states in the region, barring Sikkim.
Shah has previously said that when it is possible for disputes between Bangladesh and India to be resolved amicably, it should also be the case that the internal boundaries of India be resolved as well.
