Assam-Mizoram talks on ending border row today

GUWAHATI: Assam and Mizoram will hold cabinet minister-level talks in Aizawl on Thursday to ‘break the ice’ after the current border stand-off since July 26 after six Assam Police personnel were shot dead by Mizoram Police.
Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma in his tweet said, “Two of my senior colleagues @ATULBORA2 and @TheAshokSinghal will visit Aizawl tomorrow with message of peace from people of Assam.”

His Mizoram counterpart, Zoramthanga, in his tweet said, “Tomorrow the 5th of August, 2021 representatives from #Assam Govt. led by senior Minister will meet representatives of #Mizoram Govt. led by senior Minister. I am sure important steps will be achieved for the solution of the border problem.”

Assam’s urban development and irrigation minister Ashok Singhal, who is travelling to the Mizoram state capital along with agriculture and border development minister Atul Bora, told TOI, “As desired and directed by CM Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma, we will be having the discussion with Mizoram government. We are quite hopeful of a peaceful settlement.” From Mizoram side, the meeting will be attended by state home minister Lalchamliana and land revenue and settlement minister Lalruatkima. Singhal said Assam will present its two broad standpoints — it will not concede any part of its constitutionally demarcated geographical area and at the same time will push for discussions to amicably sort out differences. Singhal is also the guardian minister of Cachar district where the flare-up took place.
“The inter-state boundary demarcation is a central subject but here the boundary between Assam and Mizoram is already demarcated constitutionally. There is only dispute over the boundary between the two states and if two states can resolve this among themselves, Delhi has no role to play. It is only when we two states fail to resolve the dispute, the Centre will step in,” Singhal added.