NEW DELHI, July 9 ? The threat of illegal infiltration from Bangladesh has sent alarm bells ringing in Meghalaya, with Chief Minister DD Lapang seeking urgent assistance from the Government of India in curbing infiltration. The State Government has sought issue of national identity cards and setting up of three Border Security HQs in East and West Khasi and Jayantia Hills.
"Ours is an influx-prone State,? Lapang said demanding expediting of the border-fencing project. With no end in sight to the vexed inter-State border dispute with Assam, Chief Minister Lapang has sought the intervention of the Prime Minister to resolve the dispute.
Addressing newsmen last evening, Lapang said that area of differences should be sorted out at the earliest, as a disputed border does not create a healthy atmosphere. Although the demarcation of the border has been resolved, 11 areas of differences in Karbi Anglong and Upper Assam remained to be resolved. Prolonged negotiations including a series of meetings at the Chief Minister?s level have failed to clinch the issue, Lapang said.
The Chief Minister, however, promptly added that it has been appreciated by both the States that the removal of differences on the inter-State boundary as quickly as possible is an urgent necessity. It has also been agreed that all steps should be taken by both sides to remove irritants and to promote feelings of confidence and security among all the people living in the border areas. Lapang said that as Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh was also a representative of Assam in the Parliament, his assistance was sought to resolve this long pending dispute.