Governor Pillai with Garg
Aizawl: After yesterday’s discussions between Mizoram and Assam governments over measures to de-escalate the recent border row between the two states and the clashes which followed, a Union Home Minister representative, involved in the peace talks, today met Mizoram Governor as well as Chief Minister to apprise them about the discussions.
Satyendra Garg, Joint Secretary( North East), Ministry of Home Affairs, today called on Governor P.S. Sreedharan Pillai at the Raj Bhavan, and also Chief Minister Pu Zoramthanga at the latter’s residence to convey the Centre’s expectation that normalcy would be restored soon.
Garg had chaired yesterday’s joined border talk at Silchar in Assam in which the Home Secretary, Mizoram and her counterpart from Assam were negotiating how to diffuse tension in the shared border areas. He today told the Mizo governor that the bilateral talk at the state Home Secretary level was a success, and that the road blockade in the border area had been cleared and the vehicles carrying essential goods were starting to enter Mizoram from last night. He also expressed his optimism of bringing back normalcy to the border area by the joint efforts of the two states as soon as possible. Governor Pillai discussed about the state’s point of view and where Mizoram stood on border issue, and expressed his his full faith in the state officials to come up with a meaningful solution through dialogue and peaceful manners.
Garg in his meeting with the state Chief Minister, conveyed to Zoramthanga his expectation that normalcy is restored soon. He also addressed the larger issue concerning the border for which he hoped mutually acceptable end could be achieved.
Earlier, there was much drama on October 21 when the Assam government retracted a press release following strong protest by Mizoram’s Home Secretary “against the misinformation conveyed in the Press Release”. The Secretary, Home Department of Mizoram impressed upon the Joint Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, the Home Commissioner, Assam and other delegates present at the meeting at Silchar dated 21st October 2020 that the said Press Release be immediately withdrawn.
Earlier, it may be mentioned that on October 21 (yesterday), the Home Secretary level talks were held at Lailapur in Cachar District of Assam to discuss measures to de-escalate the recent border row and the clashes which followed. The meeting of the two Home Secretaries dwelt on four major issues and both of them agreed that no steps would be taken in the disputed areas without mutual consultations, consent and agreements of both governments.
Replying to the suggestion of Assam Home Secretary to withdraw police forces from the area, Mizoram Home Secretary, Pi Lalbiaksangi answered that taking into account the safety of the residents of Mizoram, the police forces would be deployed by the Government till the situation returns back to normalcy. She added that in the best interests of both states, the two state governments and authorities must mutually agree to, and consult each other before taking any kind of steps in the disputed areas. She pointed that there were no reports at all, of any incidents targeting non-Mizo drivers within Mizoram. In fact, drivers stranded due to the blockade were helped by the YMA, she added.
GD Tripathi, Commissioner & Secretary (Home & Border), Government of Assam suggested that to further cordial relations between the two border Districts, meetings at the Deputy Commissioner Level and other levels be held regularly. He mentioned that the Assam Government was very open to cooperation in the border areas with respect to Covid-19 containment and mitigation.
The meeting expressed its concerns on rumours and fake news related to the incident which surfaced on social media and electronic media discussed these matters. The meeting agreed that withdrawal of police forces would be taken up once vehicular traffic and the current situation return back to normal.
Another meeting between the officials and both state governments and the Joint Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, Shri Satyendra Garg was thereafter held at Silchar, yesterday.
