CCIB rejects government offer, decides to launch wildcat agitation

Shillong, Apr 1 (UNI) The influential Coordination Committee on International Border (CCIB) today rejected the Meghalaya government's offer for a dialogue over the fencing of the Indo-Bangla border in the state.

Deputy Chief Minister Donkupar Roy invited the CCIB to hold discussion with the government after the latter decided to launch a wildcat agitation in the state demanding stoppage of the border fencing in disputed areas.

The government has fixed April 12 to discuss the Indo-Bangla border issue with the CCIB.

''This time we will not reciprocate to the government's invitation until they stop erecting the fence along the Meghalaya's borders with Bangladesh,'' CCIB spokesman G H Kharshanlor told UNI here.

The CCIB wanted the government to fence the porous Indo-Bangla border from zero line while the Union government norms was to fence 150 yards from the zero line.

''We will be losing all our cultivable land and Bangladeshi's will enjoy reaping in our land if the government continues to fence it 150 yards from zero line,'' the CCIB spokesman said.

Mr Kharshanlor also said the Committee has decided to go ahead with its wildcat agitation to press the government to comply with their demands.

A couple of weeks ago, the CCIB served a 72-hour 'quit notice' to the National Building Construction Corporation (NBCC) workers engaged in Indo-Bangla border-fencing alleging that the NBCC had violated the government's notification which directed them to suspend fencing work in all disputed areas between Nongjri in East Khasi Hills and Jaliakhola in Jaintia Hills.

The time ended on March 28.

However, the Union Home Ministry has directed the Meghalaya government to provide foolproof security to the NBCC workers in view of the 'quit notice.' UNI