Meghalaya to Begin Border Talks with Assam Soon: CM Sangma

Meghalaya will soon begin to hold official talks with Assam on the remaining six areas of border disputes this year. This was informed by Chief Minister Conrad Sangma on Tuesday.

While speaking to the media, CM Sangma said, “We will try to initiate talks as soon as possible. Communication has already started but officially, we will try to work out in April or May.”

It may be mentioned that in March 2022, both states signed a historic agreement in Delhi to resolve their 50-year-old pending boundary dispute in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah at the office of the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Earlier in the day, the Central government had informed the Lok Sabha that several states including Assam and Union Territories (UTs) are facing disputes pertaining to boundaries arising out of demarcation of boundaries and claims and counterclaims.

While responding to a query of Dravina Munnetra Kazhagam Member of Parliament TR Paarivendhar, Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai informed Lok Sabha sharing the information through a written reply saying, “There are boundary disputes arising out of demarcation of boundaries and claims and counter claims over territories between Haryana-Himachal Pradesh,UT of Ladakh-Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra-Karnataka, Assam-Arunachal Pradesh, Assam-Nagaland, Assam-Meghalaya, Assam-Mizoram.”

Also Read: Assam-Meghalaya Border Row: 2nd Round of Border Talks Likely in April

“Further, some issues regarding the unauthorized entry of fishing boats and trawlers into the territorial waters of coastal states and UTs were brought to the notice of Southern Zonal Council and its Standing Committee,” he said.

Rai was asked whether the centre has any data about the number of one state’s people who have been arrested or died in other states for want of other reasons during last three years. To this, the Minister said, “No such data is maintained centrally.”

“However, the Ministry of Home Affairs issues advisories to states and UTs, from time to time, to maintain law and order and ensure that any person who takes the law into his or her own hands is punished promptly as per law,” he added.

Also Read: Assam Among 14 States, UTs Facing Boundary Disputes: Centre to Lok Sabha