SHILLONG, Sept 5: Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong on Monday said the state government will call a meeting with all the stakeholders once the regional committees are being constituted to take forward the second phase of border talks.
The assurance was given to a delegation of traditional heads from Block I area.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Tynsong said that the delegation had submitted a memorandum requesting the government to ensure 36 Pnar villages under Block-I, are retransferred to Meghalaya.
“I already explained to them to wait till the constitution of the regional committees and by then a meeting will be called with all the stakeholders along with detailed documentations,” he said.
When asked, Tynsong said the Meghalaya Chief Minister and Assam Chief Minister had already decided to constitute the regional committees within 15 days. “Therefore, it is up to them when they are going to notify the constitution of these regional committees,” he added.
Earlier, general secretary of the Labang Nangphyllut, Pangam Raliang Council, Marcus M Thaiang said that the 36 pnar villages under Block-I were forcibly made to be part of Karbi Anglong, Mikir and North Cachar Hills in 1951. The villages were actually part of and parcel of Jaintia Hills.
“In view of this fact, we came to meet the deputy chief minister for his intervention and to ensure that all these villages are brought back to Meghalaya during the second phase of border settlement between Meghalaya and Assam,” he said.
“We also strongly believe that Assam will release all the pnar villages back to Jaintia Hills district,” Thaiang added. He also expressed confidence that the MDA government under the leadership of Conrad K Sangma will be able to resolve the long pending boundary issue as per the desires of the people.
