Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu will meet on Friday to discuss remaining issues in the Assam and Arunachal border dispute between their respective states.
The meeting in Namsai, Arunachal, will be the third such dialogue between the two states. The state governments agreed at the last meeting to form district-level committees led by cabinet ministers to resolve the decades-old boundary dispute.
Arunachal Pradesh, which was shaped from Assam, was originally a Union territory. In 1987, it became a full-fledged state. The two states share an 804.1-kilometer border. The boundary dispute that arose during the re – organisation of the North-eastern states is now pending in the Supreme Court. The meeting’s outcome is essential for 123 villages along the Assam-Arunachal border.
Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu told reporters that both states have agreed to settle the dispute out of court. ” The vexed issue of Arunachal-Assam border has been lingering for more than seven decades and the matter is presently before the Honourable Supreme Court. But now because of the guidance from PM Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Himanta dada and I have committed to resolve this matter through dialogue and settlement out of court.”
Khandu added “I am glad to inform you that on July 15, both the CMs, both Chief Secretaries and chairpersons in-charge of both committees will be deliberating on the matter at Namsai. I am very optimistic that after discussions, we will definitely have positive results. I must express my heartfelt thanks to Assam CM Himanta ji for his proactive and optimistic role in the entire process.”
Assam Minister Piyush Hazarika expressed optimism about the meeting as well. “This will be a historic meeting between the two states to resolve decades-long issues under the strong guidance of the PM and Home Minister,” he stated to the reporter. ” I hope the dispute between the two neighbouring states will be resolved soon like Assam and Meghalaya a few months ago.” He added.
In March, Assam and Meghalaya agreed to end their five-decade-long border dispute, which had frequently heightened tensions between the two states. The agreement settled the long-running dispute in six of the twelve places along the two states’ 884.9-kilometer border.