HSPDP prez blasts Assam government

LANGPIH DISPUTE

From A Correspondent

Shillong, Sept 13: Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP) president and Nongkrem legislator Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit on Wednesday condemned the Assam government’s stand on Langpih.

“The party strongly condemns the Government of Assam for accusing Meghalaya of encroaching into Langpih,” Basaiawmoit said.

It may be mentioned that on 11th September, Assam Parliamentary Affairs Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary told the Assembly that the government was aware that some areas of Langpih under Boko revenue circle of Kamrup district were illegally occupied by Meghalaya.

“Langpih is an integral part of Meghalaya,” the HSPDP president asserted.

Basaiawmoit said it was shameful on the part of the Government of Assam to blame Meghalaya even as he alleged that it was the other way round.

“In fact, it is Assam which is encroaching into the territory of Meghalaya and this is ucceptable,” he said.

Basaiawmoit also urged the Meghalaya government to expedite the process of bringing a permanent solution to the border dispute with Assam.

On 11th September, Patowary had told the Assam Assembly, “Habitations, roads, school and temple/churches have also been constructed by people of Meghalaya in these areas.”

He maintained that the Assam government has been persistently working for resolution of disputes between the two States through dialogues and good neighbourly relations.

The Meghalaya government has maintained that differences persist with Assam on 12 places along the border.

The areas of difference along the inter-State border are Upper Tarabari, Gazang Reserved Forest, Hahim, Langpih, Borduar, Boklapara, Nongwah, Matamur, Khapara-Pilangkata, Deshdemoreah Block I and Block II, Khanduli and Retacherra.

The total area of difference is 2,765.14 square km, of which Blocks I and II cover 1,583.42 square km.