SHILLONG, NOV 11: HSPDP president KP Pangniang pressed the state government to begin the Phase-II border talks with Assam without further delay, saying the reasons cited so far can no longer justify inaction.
Asked if the government was dragging its feet, Pangniang said the HSPDP had understood the constraints, but the window for excuses had closed.
“There are reasons that they give, that is okay, because now there is an election in Assam, here there is the MP election, and now there are the political developments, the chairman of West Khasi Hills, Bah Metbah Lyngdoh, has resigned,” he said.
“These are the reasons, but from now onwards we should not delay,” he said. “Maybe there will be an MP election, but there should be no more reason to start the talks.”
Pangniang said it was incumbent on the present government — which his party supports — to see the border settlement through to completion.
“I firmly believe that, as we support this government, the timing is for this present government to complete what remains, just as they completed Phase-I,” he said.
