Picture : Twitter / ANI
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has said there cannot be an overnight resolution of the decades-old border dispute between the states as it is a very complex issue. Underlining that peace and tranquility have been restored at the shared border with Mizoram,
Noting that the border disputes go back to the British era, Sarma in an said Assam has been holding talks with other states too and faulted the previous Congress governments for not clearly demarcating boundaries while carving out new states.
Six Assam police personnel were killed in a violent clash between the police forces of Assam and Mizoram last month over the border dispute between the two states following a fresh escalation of tension.
Sarma, who is on a four-day visit to the national capital starting from Saturday, met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday.
“Mizoram has been demanding the inner line forest based on the notification issued by British in 1870. Assam’s position is that there is a constitutional boundary and Mizoram is asking about the historical boundary. Assam is protecting its constitutional boundary,” the Bharatiya Janata Party leader asserted.
However, he added that as of now the issue between the two states has been resolved.
“We have discussed and settled the issue for the time being. I am in touch with the Mizoram chief minister and speak to him at least twice a day,” he said.
Sarma said there were problems related to “our borders for the last several decades” and last September, “mistrust and differences” between the two states increased, resulting in this violent incident, but now the situation is peaceful.
“The governments of Assam and Mizoram have issued a joint statement urging for peace and tranquility. As of now, things are normal, traffic is moving to Mizoram as usual. I can say as 0f now the situation is normal, peaceful and there is no tension,” Sarma said.
