GUWAHATI:
Arunachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein on Friday said the age-old bond between the different ethnic groups of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh remains unbroken to this day.
“From Balipara in Assam to Itanagar, Siang, Lohit, Namsai, Tirap and Longding in Arunachal, the age-old bond between the different ethnic groups of both states has remained unbroken to this day. As such, the legacy of the past heritage and history of peaceful coexistence as established by the ancestors of both states must be carried forward with the same zeal,” Mein said while addressing the 20th Central Triennial Session organized by the Assam Moran Sabha at Mohong Village, Bordumsa in Upper Assam’s Tinsukia district on Friday.
Mein expressed his delight over being present among the Moran community members.
Acknowledging the indigenous roots of the community, Mein mentioned that the Morans are among the early inhabitants of the Brahmaputra Valley and descendants of the Bodo stock of the Mongoloids.
“Naturally, they share their cultural heritage with the Bodos, Kacharis and other brethren of the region,” he said.
“In addition, the community also shares sociological and cultural relations since time immemorial with the Tais, Naras, Khamtis, Singphos, and other collateral groups residing in the Brahmaputra Valley,” Mein also said.
Reminiscing glory stemming from the shared similarity between the Morans and the Tai Khamtis and Singphos, Mein recalled the tales he heard of as a child about the unmatched expertise of the Morans in elephant catching and training; a shared common interest with his own ethnic clan.
During the meeting, he also spoke about the 7 decades-long border conflict between Assam and Arunachal; a resolution for which at one time was almost unthinkable.
However, circumstances are now favourable, owing to the support extended by the Central government and due to the shared willingness and proactive measures taken by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu.
Reaffirming the need for a peaceful resolution, Mein stated that progress made by both states toward resolving these long-standing issues was made possible after the BJP government came into power and paid special focus to the development of the Northeast.
Quoting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Mein reinforced the vision of a developed Northeast, for a progressive India.
He also stated that visible progress has been made in the region under the current government.
Adding on, Mein talked about the increasing number of infrastructure projects being sanctioned by the Central government in both Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, as a true indication of the commitment placed by the government, both at the Centre as well as in the respective states, towards achieving accelerated growth in the Northeast.
The 20th Central Triennial Session if Assam Moran Sabha began on December 28 to bring focus to the need of preserving the indigenous rights of the Moran community members in the state.
The meeting was also attended by Assam minister Bimal Bora, Margherita MLA Bhaskar Sharma, Sadiya MLA Bolin Chetia, former Doomdooma MLA Dilip Moran, Assam Moran Sabha president Rajib Borah, Assam Moran Sabha general secretary Durlav Gohain and various other dignitaries and members of the region.