03/06/2026
No Border Dispute Exists: The CEM's Clear Answer the Dy CM Won't Acknowledge
Why Karbi Anglong's Boundary Is Constitutionally Sacred, Not Politically Negotiable
| In the sweltering heat of early June, two leaders stood on the muddy fields between Tapat and Lapangap, villages torn apart by violence just months ago when a harvesting-season clash left Karbi Anglong villagers injured and one dead.
Today, they came not as warriors, but as peacemakers. Yet beneath the surface of this seemingly straightforward peace mission lies a storm of political spin that threatens to obscure an unmistakable constitutional truth: the border of Karbi Anglong cannot be altered by mere political rhetoric.
The Meeting That Wasn't About Borders
Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar categorically stated after the meeting: "No discussion of border issue was discussed. The discussion was only about peace between the two villages Tapat and Lapangap."
He's right about one thing, the meeting was about peace. Both leaders, including Chief Executive Member (CEM) of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) Dr. Tuliram Ronghang, visited the location and appealed for peace, urging villagers not to restrict each other from accessing their paddy fields. Both leaders acknowledged this was a peace discussion, not a border dispute resolution.
But here's where political escapism begins: Dhar's insistence that "no border issue was discussed" appears less like candor and more like strategic avoidance. Why? Because in Meghalaya, the border issue is a deep political minefield that no wise politician wants to ignite unnecessarily. To invoke it would be to become a political pariah in his own state.
The Constitutional Reality Check
While Dhar resorted to political maneuvering, Dr. Tuliram Ronghang stood on unassailable constitutional ground. When asked about the boundary dispute, the CEM made it crystal clear, in the very presence of the Deputy Chief Minister:
"We have a notified boundary as well as a natural boundary, so there is no question of boundary dispute."
This isn't just rhetoric, it's constitutional law.
The Legal Framework That Protects Karbi Anglong
The Sixth Schedule isn't an experiment, it's a constitutional promise. The boundary demarcated under this framework is not subject to negotiation between state governments or political posturing. It is notified, natural, and constitutionally protected.
Who Should We Believe?
The question now hangs heavy in the air: Who do we believe, the Deputy Chief Minister or the Chief Executive Member?
CEM Dr. Ronghang invokes constitutional boundary, citing notified boundaries, natural boundaries, and the legal framework that protects Karbi Anglong.
Dy CM Dhar resorts to political escapism with nothing short to offer beyond denying that border discussions occurred.
Dr. Ronghang has previously defended Article 244(A) in the assembly, declaring the Karbi Anglong Agreement's autonomy non-negotiable. His statement isn't defiance, it's fidelity to the Constitution.
Block 1 and Block 2: Political Punching Bags
The "Block 1 and Block 2" controversy has become Meghalaya political leaders' favorite punching bag, a way to score brownie points with voters while knowing full well this issue transcends politics. They know this isn't merely about political Maneuvering; it's about constitutionality.
Here's the uncomfortable truth they're all dancing around: Constitutionally demarcated boundaries cannot be altered with mere political posturing. The Constitution doesn't bend to election cycles or political convenience.
The Harvesting Season Tragedy That Started It All
Let's not forget why this peace meeting was necessary in the first place. During the harvesting season a few months ago, a violent clash erupted between the two communities. Villagers from the Karbi Anglong side suffered injuries, and one villager succumbed to death. This isn't abstract political theory, this is real human suffering.
The deployment of additional security forces at Lapangap village following protests over alleged border tensions underscores the gravity of the situation. Peace is not negotiable. Human lives are not bargaining chips.
The Bottom Line
The Deputy Chief Minister of Meghalaya may not want to invoke the border dispute and create an unnecessary scene. He's politically astute enough to know that would make him a pariah. But political caution cannot erase constitutional reality.
Dr. Tuliram Ronghang spoke truth to power when he stood before the Deputy Chief Minister and declared that Karbi Anglong has a notified boundary and a natural boundary, so there is no question of boundary dispute.
The Constitution is clear: Only Parliament can alter state boundaries under Article 3, and even then, only with special procedures. The Sixth Schedule protections under Article 244(2) are not suggestions, they are constitutional mandates.
Who's Right?
When one leader invokes constitutional law and the other resorts to political evasion, the choice is clear. The border of Karbi Anglong is not a political football to be kicked back and forth between state capitals. It is constitutionally sanctified, legally notified, and naturally demarcated.
Political rhetoric cannot alter what the Constitution has established. And anyone who tries to convince you otherwise is either constitutionally illiterate or politically dishonest.
