ASDC asks Ronghang to prevent tension while settling border dispute
HT Bureau
DIPHU, Aug 26: The Autonomous State Demand Committee (ASDC) on Friday asked the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) to prevent tension along the Assam-Meghalaya border areas while resolving the decade-old boundary dispute.
Related Posts:
Talking to the press persons on Friday at the ASDC’s office premises here, ASDC secretary (Publicity), Daniel Teron said, “The boundary between Assam (Karbi Anglong) and Meghalaya was finalised in the government notification of 1951. Meghalaya government is claiming Khasi dominated areas. The Khasi villages inside Karbi Anglong then will have to be surrendered to Meghalaya. Likewise, in Meghalaya also there are Karbi villages, should the people of Karbi Anglong claim those areas? The Meghalaya government cannot lay claim on the line of tribes. This is unjustified.”
Stating that the ASDC is opposed to the give and take policy of the government of Assam and Meghalaya in solving the inter-state border dispute, Teron said, “It is against the spirit of the government notification of 1951.”
The ASDC leader emphasised that the border was created with the formation of a boundary commission headed by the then cabinet minister of Assam, Motiram Borah.
The Commission has held several meetings to ensure that no injustice was done to the people of Karbi Anglong and Meghalaya. “The give and take policy is unconstitutional as Article 3 of the Indian constitution authorized only the Parliament to increase, and diminish the area of any state or alter the boundaries of any. On the other hand sub-paragraph 3 a,b,d,f & g of paragraph 1 of the sixth schedule to the constitution of India authorised the Governor to act on the issue of boundaries. But now the role of the Governor of Assam was kept out of the purview of the process of settling the boundary issue,” Teron further claimed.
The ASDC also submitted a memorandum to KAAC chief Tuliram Ronghang on Friday in which it asked the council administration to take up immediate steps with the Assam government to avoid disturbances in the border areas.
The memorandum added that the governments of Assam and Meghalaya have held the first round of talks on border rows. Meghalaya is seeking the taking back of Block – I and Block – II of West Karbi Anglong bordering Meghalaya.
The ASDC also opposed the closing down of zero performance schools. President of ASDC, Chandra Kanta Terang said just because the school failed to perform in matric examinations does not mean it has to be shut down. The government has to see to the fate of students. Terang blamed the interference of the State government in the affairs of the KAAC.
Terang said, “As per the MoU of 1995, primary education up to college has been transferred to the KAAC. It is the KAAC where to give show cause notice or to close down schools with zero performance and it is not the State government.”
