Issues still to be addressed in Assam-Mizoram border row: Assam minister

Assam minister Atul Bora, today, said that few disputes still remain when it comes to resolving border disputes with neighbouring states. Bora said that whereas progress has been made in resolving the border disputes with Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh, the inter-state border dispute with Mizoram is a long-standing problem and efforts are underway to reolve it.

Speaking to news agency ANI, Bora said, “The Assam-Mizoram border issues are a long standing problem, after becoming the Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma took the initiative himself to solve the border issues with all northeastern states. So you can see we held discussions with Meghalaya and Arunachal, and although issues are still there talks are going on to fully resolve them at the earliest.”

He further added, “On these lines we also held discussions with Mizoram, the matter was pending because of the Mizoram polls, now there is a new government in place there and from what we have seen they are also keen to resolve the issue at the earliest.”

He added that unlike Meghalaya and Arunachal, there was previously no claims from Mizoram, “We have asked them what they wanted and so now they have submitted their demands,” he further stated.

Assam-Mizoram border disputes have been ongoing since Mizoram gained statehood in 1987. There is a 164.6 km border separating Assam and Mizoram.