SHILLONG: Deputy Chief Minister of Meghalaya, Sniawbhalang Dhar, has strongly refuted allegations made by Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) President Vincent H. Pala regarding the ongoing interstate boundary dispute settlement between Assam and Meghalaya.
Pala had previously claimed that the border resolution process was a failure, asserting that the government had unilaterally settled matters between the two state administrations without consulting the residents living in the border areas.
In a detailed clarification, Dhar dismissed these allegations as entirely incorrect. He explained that when the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government initiated the border talks, it began precisely with a process of consultation and public hearings to gather feedback from the local residents of the border villages.
The Deputy Chief Minister emphasized that it is because of this extensive and inclusive consultative process that the government has taken considerable time to resolve the issue, rather than rushing into a hasty agreement.
Pointing out that the border dispute has remained unresolved for the past 55 years, Dhar noted that previous governments did not even dare to touch this highly complex and sensitive issue.
In contrast, he credited the MDA government for taking the bold initiative to address the dispute head-on. While acknowledging that the government does not claim to have resolved every single dispute yet, he maintained that the current administration is actively working on the matter and refusing to sit idle.
Dhar further argued that it is practically impossible for the government to hold bilateral talks in isolation without informing and obtaining feedback from the local populations in disputed areas such as Langpih, Ri Bhoi, and Lapangap.
He stressed that the government has no intention of using force or imposing decisions from above. Even though the public is aware of the border committee’s terms and conditions, the process cannot move forward without understanding the genuine desires of the residents.
He remarked that it would be entirely wrong to attempt to settle the border at Byrnihat based on the explanations of someone sitting in Shillong who has no real understanding of the local situation.
The Deputy Chief Minister admitted that gathering public feedback has been a time-consuming exercise because individual residents often hold differing opinions and suggestions.
Despite these challenges, he highlighted that the first phase of the border settlement proceeded smoothly, and the local residents expressed happiness over the outcome, even if minor shortcomings may have existed here and there.
Concluding his statement, Dhar reiterates that resolving a border dispute that has lingered for over half a century naturally takes time. Instead of criticism, he stated that the government deserves appreciation for taking ownership of such a difficult issue because it deeply cares about the welfare and resolution of the border residents’ long-standing grievances.
