HSPDP urges Meghalaya government to accelerate second phase of border talks with Assam

The Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP) has called on the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government to urgently resume the second phase of border negotiations with Assam. The party emphasized the need to address six remaining disputed areas between the two states, urging immediate action to resolve the century-old boundary issues. HSPDP President KP Pangniang voiced his concerns in a letter to Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, expressing disappointment over the slow progress of the negotiations. While acknowledging the MDA government’s efforts in resolving six sectors of the interstate boundary dispute in 2022, Pangniang stressed that addressing the remaining sectors must be a top priority.

The appeal comes at a crucial time as tensions over unresolved border areas have persisted for decades. Pangniang revealed that Chief Minister Sangma has assured the HSPDP that the second phase of talks will soon resume, with plans for a meeting between Sangma and Assam’s Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma before the upcoming autumn session of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly. Both states have established regional committees to manage negotiations, and documentation is being prepared for submission to Assam.

A particular point of contention is the Langpih sector, where Meghalaya claims jurisdiction over 54 villages through the West Khasi Hills’ regional committee. Meghalaya Minister Paul Lyngdoh has previously asserted the state’s claims over these villages, a sentiment echoed by the HSPDP. The party’s letter underscores the importance of resolving these disputes, which have been a source of long-standing tension between the two states.