GUWAHATI/AIZAWL:
The governments of Mizoram and Assam conducted second round of talks to solve the decades-long border dispute between the two states and signed a joint statement, in Aizawl on August 9.
The joint statement signed by Assam’s Border Protection and Development Minister, Atul Bora and Mizoram’s Home Minister Lalchamliana, stated, “Both the sides reaffirmed the joint statement of August 5, 2021 in letter and spirit. Both the states have agreed to promote and maintain peace and to prevent any untoward incident along the borders, and the deputy commissioners of the bordering districts of both the states shall meet at least once in two months.”
After the signing, Bora told The Meghalayan over phone from Aizawl that the Mizoram government is likely to submit its claim in October and informed that the next high-level delegation parley will be held in Guwahati in October, where issues and claims would be deliberated in detail.
“Till now Mizoram has not submitted its claim over Assam land. But today, the Mizoram government decided that it will submit its claims on the areas they demand in a high-level meeting with the Assam government in October. The date and venue of the meeting will be decided later,” said Bora.
This is the second round of talks after the violent clash along the border on July 26, 2021, with the first having been held on August 5 last year. Two rounds of virtual meetings were held in April this year after which the two sides agreed to take the negotiations to a higher level.
“Today was our second visit to Aizawl. On our first visit on August 5, 2021, we had a long discussion on various issues. Since then, several rounds of meetings between the two states have been held virtually,” Bora said.
“Under the initiative of our Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, the Assam government has taken bold and positive steps to find amicable solutions to long pending inter-state border issues with neighbouring states. We had a fruitful discussion with Meghalaya. Talks are going on with Arunachal Pradesh,” Bora said.
It was also decided by both the states that the economic activities, including cultivation and farming which have been practised by the people along the border of the two states, shall not be disturbed but allowed to continue regardless of the administrative control presently exercised by either state at such locations subject to forest regulation and after informing the deputy commissioners concerned.
Meanwhile, addressing a joint press briefing, Lalchamliana praised Sarma and his Mizoram counterpart Zoramthanga, whom he described as “extremely keen” to solve the border disputes.
“Though border disputes could not be solved within a short period of time, I hope that we can go ahead from today,” he said.
Saying that the meeting held on Tuesday was a concrete step, Lalchamliana added that the talks would be about “give and take” and not “imposition of the stance of one of the states”.
The Mizoram delegation headed by Lalchamliana, comprised of minister of state for information and public relations Lalruatkima, home secretary H Lalengmawia, and additional secretary for home Lalhriatpuia, while the Assam delegation led by Bora comprised of Ashok Singhal, Minister, Housing and Urban Affairs and secretary for border protection and development GD Tripathi.