• Assam-Meghalaya to hold border talks after August 15, says CM Conrad Sangma

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    Assam-Meghalaya to hold border talks after August 15, says CM Conrad Sangma
    The team asked the chief minister to step in so that Meghalaya would keep 18 of the 34 villages that were part of Raid Nongtung in the contentious block-II.

    Digital Desk: The chief minister of Meghalaya, Conrad K. Sangma, stated on Tuesday that his government will hold talks with Assam after August 15 in order to settle the remaining six points of contention along the interstate border.

    Speaking to reporters, Sangma revealed that he had a long talk about the matter with Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma last weekend while they were both in New Delhi for the Niti Aayog meeting.

    After speaking with a group of traditional village chiefs from the Synjuk Ki Rangbah Shnong Border Area Raid Nongtung, he announced that the first meeting for phase-II would take place after Independence Day.

    We will meet in Guwahati, but the exact date needs to be set, Sangma said.

    He said the two states would establish regional committees to forward the procedure for the second round of border negotiations.

    The team asked the chief minister to step in so that Meghalaya would keep 18 of the 34 villages that were part of Raid Nongtung in the contentious block-II.

    "We made progress in six of the twelve areas in the first phase because of this. After thorough deliberation, we signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), and the first six locations were settled in accordance with popular demand "explained Sangma.

    The chief minister said it will take time, but he is certain that the two states will also come up with a solution for the remaining six areas.

    "Moving forward and letting the process continue are both necessary. All the relevant parties must be consulted and involved, "he added.

    The chief minister has been implored, according to Synjuk president Blickstar Sohtun, to prevent the transfer of any of the 18 villages under Raid Nongtung to Assam at all costs.

    "The CM gave us his word that the border problem will be settled quickly. We are hopeful that today's conference will provide fruitful outcomes for those who have been struggling with various difficulties and issues in the border regions," he said.