Guwahati: Around 11 vaishnavite places of worship along the Assam-Meghalaya interstate border are scheduled to be handed over to Meghalaya, prompting severe concern among the state’s vaishnavite population.
Under the “give-and-take” policy, the Assam government plans to cede over 18.29 sq km of disputed land along the state’s borders to Meghalaya.
Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma and Meghalaya CM Conrad K Sangma have already made their proposals to Union Home Minister Amit Shah in order to reach an agreement based on the “give-and-take approach.”
According to reports, these 11 vaishnavite places of worship would be handed over to Meghalaya if the reports are approved by the Centre: Matesar Sattra at Matesar, Netwajapa Sattra at Longshai, Noonmati Gosai Namghar at Jimiri Gaon, Banaspati Namghar at Boklapara, Sonari Namghar at Bhalakhowa, Bura Bhugdiya Gosai Namghar at Ouguri, Umsur Namghar, Ranibari Namghar, Salser Namghar and Lungkher Namghar.
The state’s largest religious organisation, the Assam Sattra Mahasabha (ASM), has spoken out against the government’s proposal to transfer over these places of worship to Meghalaya, a Christian state.
ASM principal secretary Kusum Kumar Mahanta stated that “All of these are 200-year-old vashnavite temples.” The government’s decision to transfer them over to Meghalaya is unwise.
Mahanta further added, “We would not allow the Assam administration to hand over these religious sites to Meghalaya.”