Shillong, May 21: Repeated changes on stand by the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) has been a key challenge in resolving the recurring tension in border village, Lapangap, in West Jaintia Hills district, cabinet minister Wailadmiki Shylla said on Tuesday.
During the ongoing district-level talks over the issue, the KAAC was changing its stand “again and again” even “within hours”, Shylla said.
“We reach a verbal agreement, but within hours they change: ‘No, we cannot do like this.’ That is the challenge we are facing right now,” the minister said.
However, the negotiation process is going on. “Our DC and SP are in close contact with their counterparts,” he said.
Assuring that the MDA government has prioritised the issue of boundary dispute with Assam, he said the recurring tension in Lapangap will be taken up for negotiation soon as the new government is already in place in the neighbouring state.
Shylla noted that out of the 12 areas of difference, six have been solved.
“The remaining six are very sensitive,” he said.
On Lapangap issue, he said, “This is not happening for the first time. Several incidents have happened before and we have taken up the matter with Assam.”
Referring to a previous instance of farmers prevented from harvesting their crops, he said, “We pursued the matter with the Assam government and, after talks, they were allowed to harvest their crops.”
Shylla expressed the hope for “a mutual agreement or a solution” on the issue.
Reiterating that Meghalaya’s goal remains a full settlement, he said, “From day one, when we started the talks with the Assam government, our commitment was to resolve all 12 areas of difference completely. That is our aim and our goal.”
He acknowledged that the remaining areas would be the toughest to settle.
“The most difficult part is to decide, especially with the people living there. It is not easy, but the government is committed and will continue to talk,” Shylla said.
“If we sit and discuss, I think a reasonable solution will definitely come,” he added.
