Oppn walkout over Meghalaya's claim on CM residence

Guwahati, Mar 14 : Not satisfied with the state government's reply on Meghalaya's claim that Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi's official residence was on the neighbouring state's land, opposition parties today staged a walkout from the assembly. Asom Gana Parishad MLA Padma Hazarika today raised the issue of Meghalaya government's claim on 12 disputed places, including the Chief Minister's residence in Koinadhara Hill which was earlier the Assam State Guest House and urged the government to make its stand clear on the matter. BJP MLA Prashanta Phukan also raised the issue saying the matter was serious as Meghalaya's Revenue Minister had made the statement in their assembly yesterday. Forest Minister Rockybul Hussain said the state government was committed to protect every inch of its land and no claim by any neighbouring state would change this stand. "We are in favour of resolving the issue within the constitutional framework and not by a boundary commission as demanded by Meghalaya," he said. The Chief Minister announced in his budget speech yesterday that a number of schemes were undertaken for the all-round socio-economic development of the people living in the inter-state border areas, Hussain said. The opposition parties then staged a walkout alleging the reply reflects the government's indifference towards the issue and was far from satisfactory. Meghalaya Revenue Minister R C Laloo had said in the assembly yesterday that differences persisted with Assam at 12 places along the border, with one being the land on which stands the Assam State Guest House stands, currently occupied by the Assam Chief Minister, along the inter-state border falling within the Khanapara-Pilangakata block.