Shillong, Jan 27: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Thursday said the Meghalaya and Assam governments are waiting for the Union Home Minister Amit Shah to again call for a joint meeting to finalize the border agreement on the six areas of difference shared between the two states.
“He (Shah) has already told us that he would call us towards the end of this month or early next month, we will wait for that,” Sangma told journalists after chairing a cabinet meeting here.
He informed that almost 98 percent agreement has been reached on all the six areas of difference while agreement on another two or three percent is left.
According to him, another round of sitting with the Assam counterpart will be held in the next few days to iron out these issues.
“We are hopeful that in the next sitting (of the two states), we will come to a final understanding,” Sangma said while adding, “We would like to come to a conclusion on all the six areas of difference before that meeting is called (by Shah).”
He informed that the cabinet today was briefed about these developments and discussions also took place in those aspects.
The six areas of difference under the first phase include Tarabari (4.69 sq km), Gizang (13.53 sq km), Hahim (3.51 sq km), Boklapara (1.57 sq kms), Khanapara-Pilangkata (2.29 sq kms) and Ratacherra (11.20 sq kms).
On the recent opposition raised by the Congress, the chief minister said there is no reason for the Congress to do that. He also reminded that Congress had failed to take any step to resolve the long pending dispute despite having the opportunity to do so for many years.
“But it is only at this time that we are taking this steps and I have been very clear in my stand that past governments have done their part so therefore, I am not trying to play politics or taking credit for we moving forward, I am saying it has always been a continuous process and everybody has played their role,” Sangma said.
“At this point, Congress should realize that there is a process of moving forward and this needs a resolution and there is a very strong support from the public also for this to happen. So I think at this point in time one has to not get into the politics of things and try to see the greater good for the people and the states,” he further asserted.
