UDP slams opposition parties for failing to attend meeting on interstate boundary dispute

“When the government has invited, it is their duty and responsibility to attend and express their opinion. It does not matter whether the opinion is right or wrong or in consonance with the thought of the government, that is a different issue altogether. But on this major issue, it (their failure to turn up for the meeting) is a let down to the people of the state, who have high expectations that this boundary dispute (could be resolved),” Rymbui told reporters.

He said that for the first time there is a ray of hope that the issue could be resolved. “A start could be done and we may be able to settle this dispute so that our fellow sisters and brothers living in the border area could live peacefully and do their normal duty without any disturbances,” he added.

It may be recalled that on December 14, none of the opposition MLAs, from the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) or the Congress turned up for the meeting convened by the Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma for taking the views and opinions of all stakeholders on the border issue.

Rymbui also alleged that there seems to be confusion among the opposition MLAs as to which is the real Congress and which is the real opposition.  

“May be there is still a confusion, so they cannot think nicely because the Congress thinks that those who went away are still in Congress that may be the reason as to why why they didn't attend the meeting,” he said.

The UDP leader further alleged that the previous government had taken the boundary dispute with Assam just as an “adhoc issue” and “status quo issue”.

“For many, they take it just as an election issue and they want to keep it alive for their own election interest without taking into consideration the interest of the state,” he said.

He however said that for the MDA government, its top priority is to ensure the concern and the interest of people should be taken care of.

“That is why I said from the beginning both the chief ministers of Assam and Meghalaya are taking up the issue with an open mind and with a positive mindset to resolve the issue at the earliest,” he added.

The minister also asked the opposition not to politicise the issue. “So I hope the opposition should not play politics in this type of issue and let the new dawn that this new generation of politicians (will show) that this ad hoc issue should not be there and that we have to settle the issue once and for all. So I hope that better sense will prevail on them,” he concluded.

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