Shillong, July 7 NNN: Despite of efforts made by the state government, agitators at Langpih Friday maintained that they would only withdraw their “fast-unto-death” agitation, if government is willing to resolve the long pending boundary dispute between Assam and Meghalaya and prove it writing.
This was expressed by the agitators to the State Home Minister HDR Lyngdoh during his visit Langpih on Friday.
“We demand the government to send first its assurances in “writing” for us to decide on our future course of action”, Pynskhemlang Nongshlong who led the fasting protest said.
Nongshlong’s demand was for the government to immediately resolve the boundary dispute, deployed adequate security and bringing developmental programmes in the border.
“We will suspend our agitation till we are convinced that government is truly committed and sincere towards its promises”, Nongshlong said adding “If not, the hunger strike protest will continue”.
Lyngdoh accompanied by a high level delegation of the state government comprising of two MLAs Francis Pondit Sangma and Dr A Pariong besides MDC Irene Hujon, MPYCC president, West Khasi hills district deputy commissioner and superintendent of police visited Langpih to assess on the prevailing situation besides convinced the protestors to call off their agitation.
However, the Home Minister on his part while trying to convince the agitators to suspend their stir said, “I will take up the matter with the state government and ensure that the written assurances be send as soon as possible”.
He also informed that the Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma yesterday has sought the intervention of the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the Union Home Minister P Chidambaram and his counterpart in Assam on the urgency to find a solution to end the inter-state dispute with neighbouring Assam.
The indefinite hunger strike which begun on Saturday last was led by a 28 year old youth P Nongshlong aimed at putting pressure on the Government of India and the two state governments to arrive at an early settlement to the long pending dispute between Assam and Meghalaya.
However, till today, seven agitators were hospitalized after their health condition deteriorated. Also, a delegation of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) also visited Langpih to expressed and show their solidarity with the people living in the border areas of the state.
Meanwhile, the People’s Movement (PM), a group which spearheads the agitation to end the border crisis, petitioned the Chief Minister urging him to “suspend” of any kind of dialogue with the Assam Government and engage itself with the Centre only.
Langpih is one of the villages located along the interstate border with Assam where frequent aggression by Assam government has been resented by the people of the state.
On May 15, 2010, four Khasi youths of the village were gunned down by Assam police personnel during a clash.
Meghalaya and Assam have 12 areas of differences along the border.
Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/assam-meghalaya-border-dispute/
