Meghalaya Governor Satya Pal Malik today expressed hope that the State’s border dispute with Assam will be resolved soon in at least six areas of differences.
Addressing the State Assembly on the first day of the budget session, Malik, “We are confident and hopeful the border issue in six areas of difference will be resolved soon. My government is committed to resolving the long-pending border dispute between Assam and Meghalaya to usher peace and development for our citizens living in border areas.”
Malik also said that Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma and his Assam counterpart Himanta Biswa Sarma have had several meetings on the issue in the last six months and they have agreed to resolve the dispute in six locations – Tarabari, Gizang, Hahim, Boklapara, Khanapara-Pillangkata and Ratacherra – in the first phase.
The Governor said that a memorandum of understanding in this regard was signed by both the chief ministers on January 29 last in Guwahati, and it was sent to the Ministry of Home Affairs for further examination.
Asserting that the overall law and order situation in the State was peaceful in the past one year, Malik also informed the Assembly that the outlawed militant outfit Hynñiewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) has written to the State government expressed its willingness for unconditional talks within the framework of the Indian Constitution.
“The State government welcomes this move and has written to the Ministry of Home Affairs to take this process forward. This is a major development towards bringing about lasting peace in the State and my government is committed to ensure that the peace talk reaches its logical conclusion,” he said.
