Assam-Meghalaya Border Row: We will move from status quo to solution

GUWAHATI: Assam and Meghalaya governments decided to adopt a pragmatic approach and move from status quo to solution in the longstanding border disputes between them.

In a bid to amicably resolve the inter-state border dispute between Assam and Meghalaya, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma met his Meghalaya counterpart Conrad Sangma at Yojana Bhawan, Meghalaya Secretariat in Shillong on Friday and took part in a bilateral discussion. Chief Secretaries and other senior officials of both the governments were also present in the meeting.

During the discussion, the Government of Meghalaya claimed 12 disputed places belonging to the state. The government of Assam also justified with documents that those places belong to Assam.

After a detailed discussion, both the governments decided to adopt a pragmatic approach and move from status quo to solution. The two parties agreed to discuss all 12 places one by one and review claims. If possible, both the Chief Ministers will visit all 12 places. Further, Chief Minister Sarma also invited Meghalaya CM Sangma for the second round of discussion at Guwahati on August 6.

Along with Chief Minister Sarma, Chief Secretary Jishnu Barua, DGP Bhaskarjyoti Mahanta, Principal Secretary to the CM Samir Kumar Sinha and Commissioner & Secretary (Border Protection & Development) GD Tripathi represented the State at the meeting.

From Meghalaya Government, along with the CM, the Chief Secretary MS Rao and other top officials were present.

Later talking to the media, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, "It was a very fruitful discussion. We came to a common understanding and we are firm and committed to resolving the border dispute".

Chief Minister Sarma also said that given contradictory claims, there would have more discussions and reviews to reach a lasting solution.

Meghalaya Chief Minister said that as it was a long-pending issue that would take some more time as well as consultation for an amicable and accepted solution to both the states, a press release said.

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