Meeting on inter-state boundary issue held in Karbi Anglong

JCCPA opposes ‘give and take policy’ adopted by Assam and Meghalaya govts.

Our Correspondent

Diphu, Sep. 7 (EMN): The Joint Co-ordination Committee for Protection of Autonomy (JCCPA) has convened a meeting with party and socio-cultural organisations at Diphu Club in Diphu on Wednesday to discuss on the boundary issues and to counter the ‘give and take policy’ adopted by both Meghalaya and Assam governments in resolving the inter-state boundary between the two neighbouring states.

During the meeting it was resolved that the people of Karbi Anglong cannot accept the ‘give and take policy’ adopted by the two governments. And it also resolved to urge the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) to convene a special session to discuss the boundary issue.

The meeting was attended by 48 members from various political parties and social organisations including women’s organisations.

Former Minister of Assam, Holiram Terang said that the boundary with Meghalaya has been well defined through Assam Government notification of 1951 and there is no point in bringing the issue again.

Terang said, “The Meghalaya is just claiming that in some parts of Karbi Anglong, Khasis are living. If Meghalaya is claiming those areas then we can also claim those areas inside Meghalaya where Karbis are living. This is not the solution. It should be based on fact and documents.”

Former Executive Member, KAAC, Humsing Bey said, “We need to send a strong message to both the governments of our opposition against the give and take policy. We should not compromise on boundary issues.”

General Secretary, Karbi Nimso Chingthur Asong, Karbi women organisation, Kajek Tokbipi said KNCA is in support of JCCPA and will cooperate in all programmes to be taken on the boundary issue.

The general secretary of another faction of KNCA, Protima Enghipi also expressed that the boundary cannot be compromised and should all stand united. While rejecting the give and take policy, he said a joint movement should be launched to protest such moves by the two governments. 

Secretary, CPI (ML) – HPC, Robi Kumar Phangcho also said the boundary issue has already been defined in 1951 while lamenting that the government is politicising the issue. He said, ‘if the Assam government doesn’t take it seriously enough to solve the boundary issue, the public should raise their voice.’

Convenor, JCCPA, Khorsing Teron said after agreeing on both sides, the boundary was demarcated in 1951 while citng, “If it says there is a boundary dispute, it is invented or made by some vested group of people.”

Teron also said that it has resolved in the meeting to lead an all-party delegation to meet the Chief Executive Member (CEM), KAAC, Tuliram Ronghang to urge him to convene all-party meetings and also call for a special session.

It was also decided that a joint delegation will also meet Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma t discuss on the boundary issue.