Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and his Meghalaya counterpart, Conrad Sangma, are all set to leave for New Delhi today to submit the respective reports on the inter-state border issue to Union Home Minister Amit Shah. As per sources, the meeting is scheduled to take place at 6 pm today.
The state Cabinets of both Assam and Meghalaya gave their approval to the reports of the regional committees yesterday for resolving the inter-state border dispute in the 6 areas of difference taken up in the first phase.
The big breakthrough comes ahead of Meghalaya’s 50th statehood celebrations that fall tomorrow. Prior to the Cabinet approval, the reports of the regional committees were discussed with political parties, pressure groups, and student organisations of both states.
CM Sarma said that he and Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma will be going to New Delhi today to meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah. CM Sarma also said that the Congress’s refusal to agree to the government’s plans to resolve the border row with Meghalaya is just a political gimmick. He said that it is important to resolve this issue to maintain peace in the region.
The Assam Chief Minister said that out of the twelve dispute areas between Assam and Meghalaya, there are three points which are in the difficult zone and it would take some time to get them resolved.
CM Sarma also said that after Meghalaya, the Assam government would take up the matter of resolving the inter-state border rows with Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya.
Speaking about the vexed border row with Nagaland, the Assam Chief Minister said that the matter is sub judice in the Supreme Court and they would abide by the final decision of the apex court. He agreed that the matter of the border row with Nagaland is rather difficult and, hence, it is best that the Supreme Court take a decision on the matter.
