A conglomeration of pressure groups from Garo Hills and residents affected by the border agreement entered between Meghalaya and Assam will hold a sit-in demonstration near the Shillong Civil Hospital junction on August 22.
“The MoU between Assam and Meghalaya is unreasonable. Its subsequent surrendering of Meghalaya’s land to the Assam without the consent of the people of the areas is unfounded and uncalled for and we are committed to assert our apprehensions with the blessings of our people,” a press statement here today said.
The groups consist of Association for Democracy and Empowerment (ADE), Federation of Khasi Jaiñtia and Garo People (FKJGP), Garo Hills zone, Federation for A’chik Freedom (FAF) and A’chik Youth Welfare Organization (AYWO).
“We earnestly hope that the government of the day will relook the matter and rectify the mistakes,” they said.
The groups said that the sit-in demonstration will send a strong message in unison to the MDA government that the people of Meghalaya don’t want to simply part away the rightful ownership of the land which was owned by our ancestors proudly since time immemorial.
Under the agreement for the first phase of boundary settlement, Assam got full control of 18.51 sq km and Meghalaya 18.28 sq km. Of the 36 villages claimed by Meghalaya in 2011, 30 remained in Meghalaya.
While the protest will be on the first phase of the border deal that the two states had entered, the second phase of talks is likely to be held between the two chief ministers tomorrow on the remaining six areas of differences which include Langpih, Block-1 and Block-2.
