Thaindian News

Shillong, Sep 6 (IANS) Close on the heels of the bifurcation of the Manipur-Tripura cadre of the Indian administrative, police and forest services, Meghalaya’s legislators Thursday demanded the separation of Assam-Meghalaya joint cadre of the three civil services

Chief Minister Mukul Sangma said the demand would be examined.

“Bifurcating of the joint cadre system has both its advantages and disadvantages. However, the joint cadre system has brought a better synergy between officers of the two states,” Sangma told the assembly.

However, cutting across party lines, legislators demanded that the state government should ask the central government for the bifuraction.

“Three days back, parliament has bifurcated Tripura-Manipur joint cadre. I don’t see the reason why Meghalaya should continue to have a joint cadre with Assam when both these states (Manipur and Tripura) were created in the same year with Meghalaya,” said United Democratic Party legislator Paul Lyngdoh.

On Monday, the Lok Sabha cleared the North-Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) Amendment Bill, 2011, which establishes separate cadres of the Indian administrative, police and forest services for Manipur and Tripura.

Hill State People’s Democratic Party legislator Hoping Stone Lyngdoh, said that the joint cadre with Assam is a clear indication that Meghalaya is still a sub-State of Assam.

Congress legislator Sayeedullah Nongrum, who is also the political secretary to Sangma, also said that is high time that cadre should be bifurcated.

The cadres of Indian administrative, police and forest services have been the same for the two states ever since Meghalaya became a full-fledged state Jan 21, 1972.