Shillong, August 27: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Tuesday reiterated his government’s commitment to resolving the long-pending border dispute with Assam, stressing that sincere efforts are being made to secure a “lasting peace” for people living along the sensitive interstate boundary.
Addressing media persons, Sangma pointed out that the border talks had been stalled for nearly 46 years until the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government initiated fresh dialogue with Assam. “Finally, we started the talks. I guess you can give us that much credit. It is not so simple, it is complicated. So whatever lull that was there for 46 years, we try to make it better and we will continue to work on it,” the CM stated.
Sangma said that while resolving every aspect of the dispute may not be possible immediately, the government is determined to pursue a negotiated settlement. “For the first time, there is a government that is actually working towards this in a very honest and sincere manner. It was never there before. Can we find solutions to everything? Maybe not. But are we trying? Yes, and we will give it our best because we want long-lasting peace,” he said.
Referring to the recent incident at Maikhuli in Ri Bhoi district, the CM acknowledged that tensions remain but assured that the situation is under control. He described the issue as a complex and emotional one spanning over five decades, requiring patience, dialogue, and understanding.
Sangma also highlighted the role of cooperation between both state administrations and local communities in addressing disputes on the ground. “In the meantime we would like to see that the people living in this area can live in a peaceful manner. There will always be confrontations, but that’s the nature of the problem. At large, we are moving in the right direction,” he added.
