Assam-Nagaland vow to work towards mutual trust and people to people interaction

In a high level meeting between Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and his counterpart of Nagaland T. R. Zeliang held at the convention center Kohora at Kaziranga National Park on Monday both the Chief Ministers viewed that dialogue and not disenchantment should be way forward for the maintenance of peace and harmony along the border of both the states.

Putting his thoughts forward, the Assam CM said that both Assam and Nagaland share a common goal towards people centric development and we need to work together for mutual growth and give a boost to Sabka Sath Sabka Vikash.

“We need to work together to find out lasting solutions in the areas of illegal migration, life and security to the people of both the states and cultural and sporting exchanges,” Sonowal said.

Sonowal also advocated for constituting committees consisting of MPs, MLAs and local people to undertake frequent visits to six districts of Assam sharing boundaries with Nagaland to facilitate confidence building measures and strengthen mutual trust and a sense of togetherness.

“We will work jointly to project Northeast as a hub of possibilities, potentialities and prosperities and position it in the pan Indian contour showcasing its unmatched beauty in tourism, culture, forest and environment,” Sonowal said.

In the meeting both the states have resolved to work towards development of cooperation in the areas of mutual interest like action against rhino poaching, intelligence sharing on extremist activities, crime control in border areas of both states.

Both the Chief Ministers also agreed that security forces on both sides of the border need to be extra cautious due to threats from extremist groups and that intelligence inputs should be shared between the states through a structured mechanism.

Appreciating the gesture of Sarbananda Sonowal, Nagaland Chief Minister T.R. Zeliang said that it is undoubtedly an important step towards bringing both the states closer to think together, act together and march together.

The Nagaland CM also said that the meeting will help both the states in creating an inroad for projecting themselves as a tourist hotspot and give a boost to  Act East Policy.

He also invited his counterpart Sarbananda Sonowal to Nagaland during the Hornbill Festival and send cultural troops to Nagaland to which Sonowal agreed.

Zeliang also said that the meeting will also create a congenial atmosphere for both the states to initiate confidence building measures which perhaps would be more beneficial than the Supreme Court ruling on the border issue. Moreover to give a fillip to connectivity to the Northeast and between the two states he also strongly advocated for extending the four lane express highway upto Moreh.

Minster for Agriculture Atul Bora, Minister for Water Resources Keshab Mahanta, Minsiter for Environment and Forest Pramila Rani Brahma, Minister for Irrigation Ranjit Dutta, Minister of State for Employment and Labour Pallab Lochan Das, MP Kamakhya Prasad Tasa, MLAs, Chief Secretary V.K. Pipersenia, DGP Mukesh Sahay and other senior civil and police officers were present at the meeting.

Similarly Nagaland delegation led by its Chief Minister comprised of MP K.G. Kenye, Parliamentary Secretary  Dr. Imtiwapang, Prnicipal Secretary Lalthara, Chief Secretary in –charge R.B. Thong and a host of top civil and police officers of the state.

(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)

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