SHILLONG, APR 13: Leader of Opposition Mukul Sangma on Wednesday asked the coalition partners of the NPP-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government to come out openly against the recent MoU signed with Assam in respect to the 6 of the 12 areas of difference rather than “playing to the gallery”.
“I have seen and I have been following, including the response of the political parties which are in government. I have also seen the United Democratic Party (UDP) has expressed their reservation (against the MoU) – they should come out openly rather than playing to the gallery,” Sangma told reporters.
The former chief minister said the ultimate responsibility to determine the inter-state border is vested upon the Parliament and therefore, it must be understood by all concerns “no need to play to the gallery”.
“I repeat no need to play to the gallery because any inter-state border will have to be determined by an act of law passed by the parliament.”
Stating that the issue has to be taken up ‘politically’, Mukul said, “It has to be people’s voice, people’s movement and responded to by all the political parties who think that they have a sense of responsibility and they think they must keep up to that commitment to really speak on behalf of the people.”
“Therefore, it is not only for Dr Mukul to speak on behalf of the people, it is also their job who are in other political parties who may be in the government or who may not be in the government – even for other people who are concerned about the interest of the people and the state and the tendency of the government to compromise and surrender them,” he said.
Further, the Leader of Opposition also asked the MDA coalition partners to be true to their commitments.
“Every political party during election what do they say, they say they are all there for the jaidbynriew for the people – it is something which we all promise during the election that we will stand by the people and we will not be found wanting, we will be seen available at the time of difficulty. Now today is it not the time of difficulty, is it not the time that people are subjected to go through all that agonizing experiences. I spoke to few people and their faces tell the story that they are being subjected to this. Senior citizens are shedding tears before you,” he said while urging political leaders not to betray our own people.
Admitting that both Meghalaya and Assam belong to the same nation, Mukul however said there is need to understand these lands which we are talking about are inherited from our forefathers by our people who have the responsibility to preserve and protect them.
“That is why for politicians as their representatives we are duty bound to voice our resentment, our opposition and to oppose tooth and nail to ensure that this unacceptable agreement is not forced upon our people.”
Reiterating that people have outrightly rejected the MoU, the former CM said, “When we fight to protect the interest of our people and our state and we don’t give up, we prevail, we win. Why are we discussing this issue now because the people of the state did not accept earlier whatever was demarcated by the Survey of India based on the whole notification based on the North East Reorganization Act, 1971, it was never accepted that is why it is still there. Now the people will not accept it – so for whom are you trying to resolve it, on whose behalf?”
By Our Reporter
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