Assam Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma held interactions with the representatives of political parties and students’ organizations to discuss the longstanding inter-state border dispute between Assam and Meghalaya and solicit their views on the steps taken by the governments of both the states to settle differences through consultations in two separate meetings held at No. 1 State Guest House, Koinadhara in Guwahati on Tuesday.
While the interaction with political parties was attended by representatives of Congress, CPI(M), BJP, AGP, AIUDF, BPF, UPPL, the interaction with students’ organizations was attended by members of AASU, ABSU, ARSU, AAGSU, GSU. CEM of Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council Tankeswar Rabha was also present in the second meeting.
In the interaction with the political parties, the Chief Minister said that the inter-state border dispute between Assam and Meghalaya is a five-decade-old problem. The state government aims to bring a lasting solution to this issue in an amicable way through consultations. Dr. Sarma informed that three Regional Committees with representatives from both the states headed by one Cabinet Minister and local MLA as member along others were constituted. Based on the recommendations of the Regional Committees and several rounds of Chief Minister level discussions, a roadmap has been prepared to bring full and final settlement to the inter-state border dispute in those six areas of difference.
While taking part in the discussion, Leader of the Opposition and Congress MLA Debabrata Saikia, CPI(M) MLA Manoranjan Talukdar, AIUDF MLA Aminul Islam, BPF MLA Durga Das Bodo, AGP MLA Ramendra Narayan Kalita, BJP leader Jayanta Das shared their views. Education Minister Dr. Ranoj Pegu, Urban Affairs Minister Ashok Singhal, several MLAs, Chief Secretary Jishnu Barua, senior state government officials, and representatives of the political parties were present.
In the second meeting, Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma held interaction with AASU (All Assam Students’ Union) and delegates of Rabha, Gorkha, Garo, and Bodo Students’ Union at State Guest House here. The meeting was held as part of the government’s endeavour to bring in a permanent and lasting solution to the decades-old border dispute between Assam and Meghalaya.
In the meeting, Chief Minister Dr. Sarma sought their cooperation following mutually agreed principles to solve the long-pending problem. Also apprised them of the harmonious talks that led to taking up six areas namely Ratacherra, Tarabari, Boklapara, Khanapara-Pillingkata, Hahim, and Gizang – for finding amicable solutions.
Education Minister Dr. Ranuj Pegu, Chief Executive Member Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council Tankeswar Rabha, Chief Advisor AASU Dr. Samujjal Bhattacharya, Presidents and Secretaries of AASU, the all Rabha Student Union, the All-Assam Gorkha Student Union, All Bodo Student Union, and All Garo Student Union and senior officers of State government were present at the meeting.