Guwahati, Aug 10: The chief ministers of Assam and Mizoram are likely to meet in New Delhi to discuss the inter-state boundary issues between the two states later this month or early September.
This was conveyed to mediapersons in Aizawl by Mizoram chief minister Zoramthanga after a “courtesy” meeting with a delegation of Assam ministers on Wednesday.
“We are likely to meet in New Delhi later this month or in the beginning of September. But before I go to Delhi, I will inform Assam chief minister Himanta ji,” Zoramthanga said, while reiterating that building of faith and trust between the two states “is important to take the border resolution process forward in an amicable manner.”
It may be mentioned that Assam Cabinet ministers Atul Bora and Ashok Singhal had called on Mizoram chief minister Zoramthanga and discussed issues related to resolution of the vexed boundary problem amicably.
The ministerial delegations of both states had a crucial second round of border talks in Aizawl on Tuesday and signed a joint statement to take the process of inter-state boundary resolution forward in the coming days.
It was also decided that the third round of border talks between the high-level delegations of Assam and Mizoram will be held in Guwahati in October 2022 where issues and claims would be deliberated in detail.
It may be recalled that the first round of talks was also held in Aizawl on August 5, 2021, ten days after clashes between police forces of both states along the border during which six policemen and a civilian had died while around 60 persons were injured.
On the strategy to be adopted, the Mizoram chief minister hinted that the “easiest problems” would be resolved first. “It depends on the requirements. We will start with the easiest problems before we try to resolve the most difficult ones,” Zoramthanga said, while anticipating a resolution to the vexed border problem in due course through goodwill meetings.
It may be mentioned that the two chief ministers had earlier held informal talks in New Delhi after the first round of ministerial-level talks were held in August last year.
Speaking to reporters later, Assam border development and protection minister Atul Bora said that both the chief ministers, Himanta Biswa Sarma and Zoramthanga, had a telephonic talk during the course of the Assam ministerial delegation’s meeting with the Mizoram chief minister on Wednesday morning.
“We are grateful to chief minister Zoramthanga for his strong political will, cooperation and positive attitude. We are determined and certain that Assam will be able to resolve the border problems with Mizoram much like the progress made in the border talks with Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh,” Bora said.