Assam-Meghalaya border row: Both CMs visit Langpih; assure amicable solution

SHILLONG:

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma and Himanta Biswa Sarma on November 16 conducted a joint inspection of Langpih village, one of the disputed areas along the Meghalaya-Assam border to resolve the long-pending border dispute between the two states.

Terming it as a historical meet, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said that the joint visit is a part of the confidence-building exercise by the two chief ministers in a bid to resolve and find a way forward to the long-pending issue. He also took the opportunity to inform the people of the state that the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government has always kept the people's issues as its top priority.

''We are here today because the governments of the states (Meghalaya, Assam) are committed to resolving the border issue but it will take some time as solving the border issue is not an easy task,'' said CM Conrad.

However, taking a potshot at the Opposition, CM Sangma said that ''borders issue can’t be resolved sitting in the capital Shillong”.  “The current government has dared to address the issue. Unlike the previous governments, our government has always stood by the people of the state,'' he said.

Assam Chief Minister Sarma, on the other hand, informed that 6 disputed areas have already been visited by both the leaders, but Langpih will not come under the first phase work as it needs detailed ground zero inspection.

''We need to have an extensive dialogue, work on ground zero and look at the historical fact as resolving Langpih issue is not easy,'' stressed Sarma, adding that regional committees have visited all the 6 disputed areas and the both the CMs will soon examine the committees’ respective reports.

Both the leaders also decided that every central scheme will be thoroughly discussed with the deputy commissioners to render maximum benefit to the people of Langpih.

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