On border dispute Assam, Nagaland CMs hold talks
GUWAHATI: As the border settlement between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh nears here on Thursday, Assam and Nagaland are exploring all options for an amicable end to the decades-old border dispute.
The border issue between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh was resolved on Thursday evening after Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu signed an MoU in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and the boom was seen. Chief Minister Sarma held a one-on-one meeting with his Nagaland counterpart Neiphiu Rio at the Assam House in New Delhi late evening to resolve the long-standing border dispute between the two neighboring states.
The two chief ministers also discussed matters of mutual interest and cooperation in oil exploration along the inter-state border.
Chief Minister Sarma said on Twitter, “Delighted to have the opportunity to spend time with Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio Ji at Assam House, New Delhi.
“We had an engaging discussion on closing the ongoing border issue and other areas of mutual benefit and cooperation.”
Speaking to mediapersons later, Nagaland Chief Minister Rio said that he had fruitful discussions with his Assam counterpart on an out-of-court settlement of the border dispute with the support and cooperation of ethnic groups on both sides.
“We discussed our border issue and development issues. Because we have to work together, support each other and how to move forward. Assam and Arunachal Pradesh today signed an agreement on the border dispute. Likewise, we are also discussing how to resolve our border dispute outside the court with (the support of) ethnic groups on both sides,” Rio said.
Rio further revealed that the two states have decided in principle to go for an agreement on oil exploration in disputed areas along the inter-state border to extract oil and share royalties between the neighboring states. “Once this is formalized, there is a lot of potential for oil exploration within Nagaland as well. And to move forward as the country has a huge need for oil.
