People’s Movement calls for office picketing on July 13

From a Correspondent

SHILLONG, July 9: Stepping up pressure on the Meghalaya Government to call off talks with its Assam counterpart on resolving the border row, the People’s Movement has called for an “office picketing” on July 13.

“We have not set any time frame for the government to resolve the border dispute with Assam. All we want is that the State Government must ensure safety and security of our people living in the border areas,” leader of the movement Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit said.

Basaiawmoit said that the Meghalaya Government’s effort to hold talks on the border issue with Assam is against the wish of the People’s Movement.

Earlier in a letter addressed to Chief Minister Mukul Sangma, leader of the movement and UDP legislator said that the failure of the State Government to understand the need to suspend any kind of dialogue with the Assam Government is “regrettable”.

The People’s Movement was also of the view that Assam was the aggressor party which has always indulges itself in various excesses activities. Basaiawmoit said that the submission of detailed documentation for justification of claim over the supposedly disputed areas to the Assam Government is “ridiculous” and not “justifiable”.

He also rubbished the claim of certain people that with the Assembly polls scheduled for early next year, the agitation on the border issue had political overtones. “We have no time to react to such petty issues,” Basaiawmoit stated.

Basaiawmoit said, “We have raised the issue even on the floor of the House and I am concerned over the indifference of the State Government and the high handedness of the Assam Government.”