Just days after signing an agreement with Meghalaya to settle disputes in six of the 12 disputed areas on the state border, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Bishwa Sharma on Wednesday expressed hope that the second round of border talks for the remaining six disputed areas would begin in June-July. He acknowledged, however, that the talks would be difficult.
The two northeastern states recently signed a landmark agreement to end their 50-year-old dispute and resolve their differences in six of the 12 cases. The agreement was signed by the chief ministers of the two states in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
“We expect to start discussions on the other six (areas of difference) in June and around July. The second step is the most complicated because it includes areas like Lampih, Block I, and II, ”he told reporters. The second episode.
Asked about the agreement signed between the governments of Assam and Meghalaya in the first six phases for resolving disputes, Sarma said India’s survey has already started work on six cases which have been resolved between the two states. “According to our memorandum of understanding, they (India Survey) will set up border pillars, and then, the whole agreement will be formalized,” he explained.
Asked to reconsider the signed agreement, he said the issue of two states should not be reopened. “Now that the agreement has been sealed and signed, there is a demand for reconsideration from the opposition in Assam but I have replied in the assembly that all these lands belong to India and as a brother and sister we have signed an agreement and we have closed so far that six sites are concerned. We should not reopen this issue, “he maintained.
Asked if border residents were “unhappy” with the two states’ decision, Sarma said, “You can’t be happy outside of every agreement. The only thing is that the country should be happy. There will always be people who are dissatisfied. But let the nation be happy. That should be our motto.” “
According to the agreement signed in March, Assam will get 18.46 sq km and Meghalaya 18.33 sq km out of the 36.79 sq km taken for resolution in the first phase. The proposed demarcation is based on the recommendations of the regional committee formed by the two-state government on July 23, 2021 after the Chief Ministerial level meeting on the border issue.
Meghalaya, carved as a separate state from Assam in 1972, challenged the Assam Reorganization Act, 1971, which resulted in disputes in 12 areas along the 884.9-km-long interstate border.
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