A meeting of the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) coalition was held today to discuss contentious issues and plan for the visit of the Union Home Minister, Amit Shah, who is now expected to visit the state next Saturday.
Speaking to the media afterwards, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said the attendees discussed the boundary dispute with Assam as well as allegations of irregularities in the Power and Social Welfare Departments. Other issues mulled over were the proposed amendment to the Constitution’s Sixth Schedule, inclusion of Meghalaya languages in the Eighth Schedule, bifurcation of the joint civil service cadre and a proposed increase in upper age limit in applying for government jobs.
One of the most persistent issues is the apparent chaos in the state-owned Meghalaya Energy Corporation Ltd (MeECL). While junior partners in the MDA had expressed concerns in the past, today they all agreed, Sangma said, that they would wait for the independent committee’s inquiry report. They were also willing to accept that any decision on the retention or sacking of Sangma’s brother James as Power Minister was up to the CM alone.
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister also informed that the MDA’s meeting on the boundary dispute with Assam, also held today, was the first of many such consultations with stakeholders.
“Today we started with the allies, then we will have a meeting with other political parties and social organisations on the border issue. We will try to involve as many people and stakeholders as possible and try to get a broader perspective,” Sangma said.
Moreover, on the impending visit of Shah, Sangma informed that many issues are on the cards.
“We will be discussing the border issue and other developmental issues (with Shah). We will also discuss state-specific issues, like the Eighth Schedule and proposed amendment to theSixth Schedule and implementation of ILP (Inner Line Permit) in the state,” the Chief Minister said.
Shah is expected to visit the state on July 24-25.
