Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Shillong: The Voice of the People Party (VPP) in Meghalaya is pushing back against the invitation of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to the Shad Behdeinkhlam festival. While the party offered warm wishes for the cultural event, they made their stance on the guest list clear.
VPP spokesperson Dr. A.W. Rani said, "The VPP would have been more grateful to the organisers had they avoided inviting Mr. Himanta Biswa Sarma as the Chief Guest for the occasion." The party claims the Assam leader heightens insecurity for residents living near the contested border.
The two states are currently working to settle a massive border dispute spanning 884 kilometers. Officials reached a deal on six areas in 2022, but the rest remains unresolved. Tensions linger. The VPP maintains that this specific festival should celebrate Meghalayan identity rather than host a figure central to the ongoing land conflict.
Comments