Karbi Anglong: ASDC opposes inter-state border agreement with Meghalaya

Our Correspondent

Diphu, Aug. 26 (EMN): The Autonomous State Demand Committee (ASDC) of Karbi Anglong has opposed to what it termed as ‘give and take policy’ adopted by the Meghalaya and Assam governments pertaining to the inter-state border issue.

A chief minister-level meeting on Assam-Meghalaya border dispute was held in Guwahati on August 21, wherein the house decided to form a three-regional level committee to solve disputes in six remaining border areas between the two states.

ASDC on Friday submitted a memorandum to the chief executive member of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC), Tuliram Ronghang, apprising him to take up immediate steps with the government of Assam in order to avoid hostility between the two states.

Speaking to media person at ASDC Central Committee office in Diphu on Friday, the ASDC secretary in-charge of publicity, Daniel Teron, stated that the boundary issue between Assam (Karbi Anglong) and Meghalaya has been finalised in the government notification of 1951.

While acknowledging the existence of Khasi villages in Karbi Anglong, Teron questioned if those villages have to be surrendered to Meghalaya. He stated that Meghalaya government cannot claim the land on the line of tribes, which according to him was unjustified.

“We are opposed to the give and take policy of both Meghalaya and Assam government in solving the inter-state border disputes. It is against the spirit of the government notification of 1951,” Teron said.

The memorandum of ASDC alleged that Meghalaya was seeking to take Block –I and II of West Karbi Anglong bordering Meghalaya. It stated that the border was created with the formation of a boundary commission headed by the then cabinet minister of Assam, Motiram Borah.

“A detailed and proper enquiry was conducted so that no mistake was done while creating the proposed district of United Mikir and North Cachar Hills now Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao and that the sensitive issue of the border was also taken into consideration. A wide and in-depth consultation with a cross-section of the people was also carried out. Then only, the United Mikir Hills district was created,” the memorandum stated.

It, therefore, stated that there was no logic in accepting the policy of giving and take as they have nothing to take that belongs to others or nothing to give that belongs to others. It added that the give and take policy was unconstitutional as Article 3 of the Indian constitution authorised only the Parliament to increase and diminish the area of any state, or alter the boundaries of any.

ASDC further urged upon the KAAC authority to take steps with the state government to hand over all projects and schemes done by the Meghalaya government inside West Karbi Anglong.