Letters to the Editor

Political maturity

The much talked about G-20 summit has come to an end in Bali. The timing of the G-20 summit was very critical internationally due to the Russia-Ukraine war which is posing a threat to world peace and the possibility of a third world war. Significantly, most of the top leaders of the world, including the US, China, France, and India discussed the global issues threadbare and unilaterally passed many vital resolutions relating to global peace. At that summit, our PM Modi was seen leading from the front and made the world hear its opinion on various issues, including the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia.

We must admit that never in the past has any Indian PM made such an impact on the global platform on a global issue which is very crucial for global peace and tranquillity. I earnestly hope that the bitterest critics of Modi will agree with me.

I am in fact waiting with my fingers crossed as the elections are approaching where our political parties will put the interests of their parties ahead of the nation. All said and done our PM Modi has shown and proved his political maturity globally.

Dr Ashim Chowdhury,

Guwahati

Boundary talks

Hostility between neighbours robs counties of peace. Examples are not far to seek. India has its hostile neighbours Pakistan and China. Everybody knows the situation along India's border with Pakistan and China. Such a situation often occurs in inter-state boundaries within a nation. The situation Assam experiences sometime with Nagaland, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh are glaring examples. Perhaps, gauzing the situation rights, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is determined to resolve border issues with its neighbouring states through tangible measures.

Led by Border Protection and Development Minister Atul Bora, Assam team has Environment and Forest Minister Chandra Mohan Patoway, Border Protection and Development Commissioner Secretary GD Tripathi and senior bureaucrats of Border Protection and Forest departments.

Led by its Home Minister Lalchamliana, the Mizoram team comprises Minister of State Lalruatkima, Home Commissioner and Secretary H Lalengmawia and other senior government officials.

After a four-hour-long marathon meeting, the two sides signed a joint statement that reads –

"Government of Mizoram will furnish the list of villages, their areas, geospatial extent, and ethnicity of the people and other relevant information within three months to support their claim which can be examined by setting up regional committees from both sides to arrive at an amicable resolution of the vexed border issues. The government of Assam will extend full cooperation wherever sought.

"Both sides agreed to abide by the resolutions encapsulated in the Joint Statement of 5th August 2021, signed in Aizawl.

"Both sides agreed to continue their resolve to maintain peace and harmony on the Inter-State border among communities living on both sides to further strengthen their age-old ties.

"High-level delegation from Mizoram expressed that there has been unrest among the areca nut grower in Mizoram on account of problems being faced in the transportation of their produce to Assam and other parts of the country. Both sides agreed to refer the issue to respective Hon'ble Chief Ministers to evolve an amicable solution.

"Both sides also agreed to continue sustained zero-tolerance policy against the transportation of smuggled areca nut from other countries."

Talking to the media after the meeting,

Mizoram Home Minister Lalchamliana said, "We have never submitted our claims in writing. We will submit the list of villages which we claim as ours within the stipulated time. The regional committees will verify the claims of Mizoram and the claims of Assam not only on paper but also on the ground."

On the areca nut trade, Lalchamliana said, "It is well-known that some people are indulging themselves in smuggling areca nut from Myanmar either through Manipur or Mizoram. We tried our level best to stop this kind of activity. The Union Ministry of Home Affairs is demanding to stop all these kinds of transportation. We are trying, but still, some people smuggle dry areca nuts. It led to the halt of the transportation of green areca nuts from Mizoram. It has affected the areca nut growers of two Mizoram districts and the Karimganj district of Assam. After a long discussion, the honourable Assam Chief Minister talked to Assam Border Protection and Development Commissioner Thipathi over the telephone during the meeting and said that he (CM) would meet the honourable Union Home Minister over the issue tomorrow. We are thankful for that. We immediately rang our (Mizoram) Chief Minister and requested him to give a ring to his Assam counterpart. And he (Zoramthanga) immediately rang to the Assam Chief Minister. We hope good news for green areca nut transportation will emerge soon. We have erected two additional check posts to check the smuggling of areca nut."

All the previous governments of Assam and its neighbouring states thought resolving inter-state boundary issues is a hard nut to crack. Yes, it is indeed a hard nut to crack. But, how can democratically elected governments allow such differences continue to complicate themselves without taking any tangible measures to resolve them? The ongoing measures between Assam and its neighbouring states are not only tangible, but also sincere.

When the media asked him about the Lailapur tragic incident last year, the Mizoram Home Minister said, "That incident was unfortunate. And I also did apologize and conveyed my condolences to the Assam delegation in our meeting on August 5, 2021. I hope this kind of thing or incident will never happen again. Mizos are for peace, and we strongly believe that we will be able to solve our border problems amicably. The solutions will be acceptable to not only the governments but also to the people of Assam and Mizoram."

The statement sounds a great realization.

Topo Singha,

Milan Nagar, Barbari, Guwahati