Assam Arunachal Pradesh Border Dispute: The Assam and Arunachal Pradesh governments signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Thursday in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah to resolve their decades-old border conflict.
#WATCH | Assam and Arunachal Pradesh governments sign an agreement for the settlement of an inter-state boundary dispute in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi pic.twitter.com/Fkg0RNw7Bx
— ANI (@ANI) April 20, 2023
Assam and Arunachal Pradesh share an 804-kilometer border dispute that dates back to the colonial era.
Signing of agreement between the States of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh for the settlement of a long pending inter-state boundary dispute in the presence of Shri @AmitShah Ji, today at 5 PM. pic.twitter.com/k2Y3UEuK2t
— Office of Amit Shah (@AmitShahOffice) April 20, 2023
Assam and Arunachal Pradesh share an 804-kilometer border.
Though there was no controversy at first, allegations of inhabitants of one state encroaching on land in the other have led to tensions and violence throughout the years. Since 1989, a case on the subject has been pending at the Supreme Court.
The decision was made recently during a Cabinet meeting in Guwahati presided over by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. The ideas presented by both states’ 12 regional committees to solve the issue were adopted by the Assam Cabinet on Wednesday, according to Assam tourism minister Jayanta Malla Baruah.
Today’s agreement with Arunachal Pradesh is in line with similar efforts made with Meghalaya in last 2 years.
This will boost the spirit of bonhomie in North East & strengthen our federal structure as it brings a new paradigm to resolve differences between states. (2/3) pic.twitter.com/AEkDr9vzo8
— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) April 20, 2023
Disputes and violence have erupted as a result of allegations of people of one state encroaching on land in the other.
The disagreement arose when Arunachal Pradesh became a UT in 1972, and various attempts were made to demarcate the line till 1974.
Following the pressure of both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Shah, both states agreed to settle their border dispute through talks in 2021, according to sources acquainted with the subject.
Both states signed the Namsai Declaration in July last year, agreeing to reduce the number of disputed villages from 123 to 86 and resolve the boundary dispute by forming 12 committees, each headed by a cabinet minister, that visit disputed areas, gather feedback from residents, and submit reports to their respective governments, they added.
