Shillong, Oct 10: The breakdown in coordination between the governments of Meghalaya and Assam has led to repeated violence on the disputed border, as was seen yesterday with the death of a villager from Assam in a violent clash, Leader of the Opposition Dr Mukul Sangma has said.
Addressing reporters today, Dr Sangma said that before 2018 (i.e. when he was Chief Minister) there was a strong mechanism in place between the two states to monitor the border situation. “We had a robust system that involved district authorities from both Assam and Meghalaya and even regular coordination at the level of the Chief Secretaries,” he said.
The collapse of such mechanisms had created a vacuum, allowing tensions to escalate unchecked, he claimed and hinted darkly that the situation was allowed to grow beyond a certain level.
Calling for peace along the border, Dr Sangma reminded that communities on both sides had lived together in harmony for generations. He warned, however, that any delay in resuming the second phase of border talks – which has been delayed time and again by Assam – could worsen matters. “If this issue is not addressed in time, more problems may emerge in the border areas,” he cautioned.
On the negotiations, the former CM underlined the need for transparency and effective communication. “When we enter into discussions, it is crucial to make our intentions clear to the people directly affected. Lack of clarity about the outcome is what is creating insecurity among border residents and that is why such incidents keep recurring,” he explained. “This issue needs attention and intervention at multiple levels of governance.”
