SHILLONG, MAR 24: Border residents under the banner of the Hynniewtrep Border Dispute Redressal Forum (HBDRF) have announced total election boycott and threatened to stage agitation against the state government’s decision to ignore their demands for immediate resolving a longstanding border dispute with Assam.
“Residents of Block-I have taken a resolution in a recent general meeting to boycott all elections – be it the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC), Assam elections or be it the upcoming MP Lok Sabha byelections. The reason for boycotting the elections is to ensure that the border dispute is settled at the earliest,” KHNAM working president Thomas Passah said while speaking on behalf of the HBDRF after a meeting held on Tuesday.
He alleged that individuals affiliated to national political parties are trying to canvas in the border villages under Meghalaya territory, seeking votes saying, “Therefore, we want to oppose such attempts by individuals, who are looking for personal mileage.”
Passah alleged the state government, led by Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, has “chosen to stay silent” despite multiple representations.
A key demand is recognition of villages notified by the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC), which would enable residents to access essential documents.
“One of the most important points that we have insisted on the government is to recognize all the villages recognized and notified by the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC) for the past many months so that these villages after getting the notification through the BDO, they will be eligible to apply for various documents which are very much mandatory in today’s time.”
“Assam residents are exploiting our helplessness,” Passah said while announcing the HBDRF’s decision to launch agitation if the Meghalaya government fails to act.
“However, the government till date has not recognized these villages and because of that the residents of these villages are facing a lot of troubles and because of this the individuals from the other side from Assam are trying to take advantage on the helplessness of these people. Therefore, from our side in our discussion, we have made a decision. Maybe we will go for agitation to protest the slowness of the government to address this key issue,” Passah said.
The forum will decide on the form of agitation after a detailed discussion in the coming days and inform accordingly, he added.
By Our Reporter
