ASSAM-ARUNACHAL BORDER DISPUTE: One more step taken towards final solution

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The bilateral border dispute in areas under the Tinsukia district of Assam and the Namsai and Lohit districts of Arunachal Pradesh was virtually resolved talks between the respective regional committees led by Arunachal Pradesh's Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein and the state's Border Protection and Development Minister Atul Bora here on Wednesday.

Both Bora and Mein said after today's discussion that the issues relating to the Tinsukia and Lohit districts have been mutually resolved, and it has been decided to resolve issues relating to the Tinsukia and Namsai districts as per the recommendations made by the Local Commission constituted earlier by the Supreme Court.

Arul Bora said that this was the third meeting between the regional committees of the two states regarding these three districts and the contentious issues were resolved through mutual agreement. The reports in this regard will be submitted to both the Chief Ministers – Himanta Biswa Sarma and Pema Khandu – very soon, he said. On the other hand, Chowna Mein said that the meeting was held in a very friendly environment and it was "result-oriented'. He said that the border dispute between Arunachal Pradesh and Assam is almost seven decades old, but the legacy that the two states share is older than that. Therefore, he said, this legacy must not be tarnished.

He further said that the border dispute has been lingering due to lack of political will on the part of previous governments of both states. However, both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah are desirous that the border disputes in the North-East should be resolved expeditiously, he said, adding that this has facilitated progress in the ongoing dialogue between the two states.

It may be mentioned that earlier, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had held discussions in this regard with Pema Khandu here on November 10 last.

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