SHILLONG:
Assam cabinet minister Pijush Hazarika on June 14 said miscreants causing disturbance along the inter-state border does not belong to his state.
“Miscreants don’t belong to us. It is as simple as that,” Hazarika told reporters after jointly chairing a border meeting with Meghalaya deputy chief minister Sniawbhalang Dhar in Shillong here.
His statement came in the wake of the recent clash incidents between the Karbi and Pnar people at Khanduli area in West Jaintia Hills District.
Stating that there is very good relationship between the people of both the states, Hazarika said, “We are very friendly and we don’t have problems with Meghalaya people. We have a very good relationship with Meghalaya and we have high regards to the people of Meghalaya as well as people of other North Eastern part of the country.”
Asserting the need to resolve the long pending boundary dispute between Meghalaya and Assam, the minister said, “We have long pending border dispute but I am sure we will be able to settle amicably in a very short period of time.”
When asked, Hazarika said, “Miscreant is miscreant. How will you identify sitting here miscreants but Assam people have love to the people of Meghalaya and I believe that Meghalaya people also have love to the people of Assam.”
Meanwhile, the minister also expressed concern over the recent clash at Khanduli.
“I am very upset about that (clash between Karbi and Pnar people). We should not have clash but we should have peaceful relationship with people of Meghalaya. People from both Meghalaya and our part should have cordial peaceful relationship and our government and chief minister also desires that only,” he stated.