Mawsynram MLA Himalaya M. Shangpliang today said that he was pained by the remarks of Mawlai MLA Process T. Sawkmie who claimed that the boundary dispute with Assam was settled only by the present MDA government.
“I am anguished at the manner that our colleague and MLA from Mawlai has made such a statement. Just six months back, I remember that Sawkmie had raised the boundary issue against this government and today I am anguished that he blamed the previous governments of not doing anything on it,” Shangpliang said while taking part in the debate on the boundary issue in the Assembly today.
“Yesterday, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma had praised the previous government, Chief Secretary and all officers who were involved in the whole process. Today, Sawkmie ridiculed the previous government. We had tall leaders like Hoping Stone Lyngdoh and B B Lyngdoh who have taken initiatives to deal with the boundary issue. It is not fair to ridicule the leadership of our founding fathers,” Shangpliang added.
The Mawsynram MLA said the whole process to settle the boundary issue was started in 2011.
“Let us admit that it was during the leadership of former chief minister Dr. Mukul Sangma that the process started. Prior to that there were intermittent meetings here and there followed by tea. After 2011 the matter was seriously initiated. If it was so easy it could have been completed a long time back. Yes, it happened today under the leadership of Conrad Sangma. It has happened because of the long drawn efforts taken by the previous government. Let us all collectively have a hand in this whole process. It is not fair to say that it has happened only under the present government,” Shangpliang said.
