From a Correspondent

SHILLONG, July 17: In a dramatic u-turn the Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP) of Meghalaya has decided to “keep on hold” the decision of its Central Executive Committee (CEC) to withdraw from the Congress-led Meghalaya United Alliance (MUA) Government as well as the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC).

In a statement issued here on Tuesday, the general secretary of the party, Enbin K Raswai said, “Chief Minister, Mukul Sangma had assured our legislator and party president Hopingstone Lyngdoh on Monday said that the issue of boundary settlement with Assam will be taken up at the all party meeting on the inter-state boundary scheduled for July 24.”

Earlier, the CEC on July 13 had resolved to withdraw from the MUA Government and also from the Executive Committee of the KHADC.

The HSPDP has two members in the 60-member Meghalaya Assembly, led by West Khasi Hills strongman, Hopingstone Lyngdoh and Pariong MLA, Advisor Pariong.

The HSPDP had stated that the State Government of Meghalaya is still indifferent, undecided or dilly dallying with the burning issue of the inter-state boundary dispute with Assam and that the matter has become more acute and gone from bad to worse.

The CEC of the HDPDP also stated that it was perturbed  by the incursions, intimidations and forced occupation by Assam through various ways and means and that the Government of Meghalaya including the Union Government are tackling the issue in a lackadaisical manner because it is happening only in areas within Khasi and Jaintia Hills.