Shillong, May 21: With Assembly elections in Assam now concluded, the Meghalaya government will restart border negotiations to address recurring tensions in Lapangap, Cabinet Minister and MDA spokesperson Wailadmiki Shylla said Tuesday.

Speaking to the media, Shylla said the Lapangap issue was not new and recalled similar disputes in the past.

“This is not happening for the first time. Several incidents have happened before and we have taken up the matter with Assam,” he said.  He noted that the MDA government has prioritized the interstate boundary dispute since taking office. “Out of the 12 areas of difference, six have been solved. The remaining six are very sensitive,” Shylla said.

The minister cited a previous instance where farmers were blocked during harvest. “During the last harvest season, they were not allowed. We pursued the matter with the Assam government and, after talks, they were allowed to harvest their crops,” he said.

On the present situation, Shylla confirmed that dialogue is ongoing at the district level. “The negotiation is on. Our DC and SP are in close contact with their counterparts,” he said.

He, however, pointed to inconsistencies from the Karbi Anglong side as a key hurdle.

“Especially from the Karbi Anglong District Council, they have been changing their statement again and again,” he said. “We reach a verbal agreement, but within hours they change: ‘No, we cannot do like this.’ That is the challenge we are facing right now.”

Talks were put on hold due to the election process in Assam, Shylla explained.

“There was an election in Assam, so we had to stop the talks on the border issue. Now the election is over and a government is in place, so we will definitely start the talks and negotiation with the Assam government again,” he said.

He expressed optimism for an outcome. “Let us hope we will come up with a mutual agreement or a solution,” he said.  Shylla reiterated that Meghalaya’s goal remains a full settlement. “From day one, when we started the talks with the Assam government, our commitment was to resolve all 12 areas of difference completely. That is our aim and our goal,” he said.

He acknowledged that the remaining areas would be the toughest to settle.

“The most difficult part is to decide, especially with the people living there. It is not easy, but the government is committed and will continue to talk,” Shylla said.  “If we sit and discuss, I think a reasonable solution will definitely come,” he added.

Also Read: Why India’s “Chicken’s Neck” corridor is more critical than ever before

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