As many as 11 vaishnavite places of worship located along the Assam-Meghalaya interstate border are expected to be handed over to Meghalaya, causing grave worry among the state’s vaishnavite people.
The Assam government intends to hand over 18.29 sq km of disputed land along the state’s borders to Meghalaya under the “give-and-take” policy.
Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma and Meghalaya CM Conrad K Sangma have already presented their recommendations to Union Home Minister Amit Shah for achieving an agreement in accordance with the “give-and-take policy”.
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 Assam Sattra Mahasabha (ASM), the state’s largest religious organisation, has expressed opposition to the government’s decision to hand over these places of worship to a Christian state, Meghalaya
“These are all 200-year old vashnavite places of worship. It is not good for the government to hand over them to Meghalaya,” ASM principal secretary Kusum Kumar Mahanta said.
“We will not allow Assam government to hand over these religious places to Meghalaya,” he added.
