Pijush Blames Previous Governments For Indifference Toward Border Issues

GUWAHATI: The ever-vocal Parliamentary Affairs Minister of Assam Pijush Hazarika on Tuesday slammed all the previous governments in the state for showing indifference toward solving border issues which has instigated a lot of clashes between Assam and various states, especially Meghalaya. 

The minister also praised the present government's proactive and swift measures to solve the long-standing border problems of the state. 

Speaking in the Autumn Session of the Assam Assembly, which started on 12th September and will conclude on 19th September, Hazarika roared against the opposition and said that the indifference they showed toward the border issues has earned Assam a bad name as news about border skirmishes between Assam and neighboring states used to appear almost on a daily basis. 

He also added that the measures and steps taken by the BJP-led government in the state to solve the border issues are praiseworthy and it will wash away all the bad name it had earned throughout the opposition party's reign in the state. 

"But while doing so, we have given the emphasis on the 'give and take policy' based on people's mandate. It is also a fact that the state cannot forcefully keep people in their area if they do not wish to remain there," Hazarika said.

The Assam and Meghalaya government on 21st August inked an agreement to solve the long-standing border problem between the states which have been there for more than 15 years now. 

In 2011-2012 the first round of discussions was held when six less disputed areas were handed over to Meghalaya and in the second round of discussion which was held in March this year, both the states agreed to work out a solution for the other six disputed areas which is more complicated because out of the six disputed areas three of them comes under Karbi Anglong. 

To make it less complicated the chief ministers of both Meghalaya and Assam will visit these areas and try to read the situation firsthand and to assure the local people that both the state governments are invested in solving the border issue. 

Both Assam and Meghalaya Governments have constituted three regional committees comprising members from both Assam and Meghalaya who will visit the sites and hold talks with the stakeholders of the disputed areas to find a solution to the border problem. 

Also Read: Meet on Arunachal-Assam border issues held at Circuit House in Bhalukpong, Arunachal

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