Assam and Arunachal Pradesh will soon engage in “serious dialogue” to solve the inter-state boundary issue between the two Northeast neighbours.
Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and his Arunachal Pradesh counterpart Pema Khandu on February 20 said that they would start the process from April to resolve the long-pending disputes along the 804 km inter-state border of the two states.
Sarma and Khandu on February 20 attended the 50 years celebration programme of Arunachal Pradesh and 36th statehood day at Naharlagun.
Prime minister Narendra Modi virtually addressed the event from Delhi and said that his government is working with full force to make Arunachal a major gateway to East Asia.
Sarma, while addressing the function, informed that Assam and Arunachal Pradesh governments would sit together from April to resolve border disputes. He hoped that the majority of border problems would be solved this year. “Border issues can only be solved amicably and through dialogue between all stakeholders,” he asserted.
The Assam chief minister requested Union law minister Kiren Rijiju, who is a Lok Sabha member from Arunachal Pradesh, to work as a leader of team Northeast so that the entire region can play a vital role in development of the country.
Saying that legendary musician of Assam, Bhupen Hazarika‘s songs have reflected the beauty of Arunachal and eulogised the bonhomie among the people of both states, Sarma recalled how Assamese stalwarts like Indira Miri, Annanda Prasad Borthakur made immense contributions for the social and educational development of Arunachal Pradesh.
Delighted to be part of the celebrations marking the 36th Statehood Day & 50 years of Arunachal Pradesh at Naharlagun.
People of Assam & Arunachal Pradesh have always shared a close affinity & bond. State boundaries may divide us physically but emotionally we are all connected. pic.twitter.com/SnXTPRqFHD
— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) February 20, 2022
The Arunachal Pradesh chief minister echoed his Assam counterpart and thanked Sarma for initiating the process to resolve the inter-state border disputes.
The day long Arunachal Statehood day celebration began with the unfurling of national flag by Hon’ble Governor of Arunachal, Brig (Dr) BD Mishra Ji (retd) at Golden Jubilee Outdoor Stadium at Yupia this morning. #50YearsOfArunachalPradesh pic.twitter.com/SwyWcnIcbr
— Pema Khandu པདྨ་མཁའ་འགྲོ་། (@PemaKhanduBJP) February 20, 2022
Till 1972, Arunachal Pradesh was known as the North-East Frontier Agency (NEFA) and it was administered by the external affairs ministry with the Assam governor acting as agent to the president of India.
On January 20, 1972, the state gained Union territory status and was renamed as Arunachal Pradesh and it became a full-fledged state on February 20, 1987.
