No bifurcation of Meghalaya: CM

The Meghalaya government has no intention to bifurcate the state.

The Meghalaya government has no intention to bifurcate the state, Chief Minister Donkupar Roy said on Thursday.

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Replying to a zero hour notice in the assembly, Roy said, "The government's stand is clear that it has no intention to bifurcate the state."

Congress MLA P Syiem sought a clarification from the government over a memorandum submitted by president of Hill State People's Democratic Party (HSPDP), H S Lyngdoh, to the President of India stating the demand of the party to bifurcate the state - a Garo state and a Khasi-Jaintia state.

Lyngdoh's party is a partner in the government and he himself is Deputy Chief Minister holding the crucial home portfolio.

The demand to bifurcate the state has been a long standing demand of the HSPDP.

Syiem questioned as to how a Deputy Chief Minister can submit a memorandum to President on a political issue while he was a member of an official delegation that met the President during her recent visit to the state.

To this, the Chief Minister replied, "The ruling Meghalaya Progressive Alliance government does not subscribe to the stand of HSPDP. A view of a partner may not necessarily be a view of the coalition government."

Roy said he was not even aware of the memorandum submitted by HSPDP. "The memorandum was not submitted when the official delegation met the president," he clarified.