Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma declared on Sunday that Assam’s insurgency-era is now gone and that efforts are being made to find a long-term resolution to the state’s boundary issue with Arunachal Pradesh.
The Chief Minister cited insurgency as a significant problem in the Northeast that was impeding the region’s development on several fronts and praised the efforts of Union Home Minister Amit Shah for measures taken to address it.
The Chief Minister stated as he attended the second and final day of the 70th Plenary of the North Eastern Council (NEC) at the Assam Administrative Staff College, Khanapara, “Due to the Home Minister’s concentration on the matter, the era of insurgency may be declared to be past in Assam presently.”
The Chief Minister added that a state of perpetual peace in the Northeast will give the area’s growth momentum a fresh boost.
Union Minister of Home Affairs Amit Shah and the leader of the statutory advisory body with its headquarters in Shillong, attended the event as well.
“The Assam Chief Minister added that half of the boundary dispute between Assam and Meghalaya has already been settled while discussing the steps being taken to resolve inter-state border conflicts in the Northeast. The processes to resolve Assam’s boundary issue with Arunachal Pradesh have been started ” the Chief Minister added.
The Assam Chief Minister addressed to the Plenary about a wide range of topics essential for equitable and sustainable progress, as well as the development of Assam specifically and the Northeastern region generally.
Stressing the need to tackle the menaces of narcotics and flood in the State, the Chief Minister stated the deliberations on the two issues at the Plenary would go a long way in effectively and efficiently dealing with them.
Sarma emphasised the need of the governments of the Northeastern states working together to find a comprehensive and long-lasting solution to the border dispute.
The Chief Minister continued by saying that programmes like the Udan Scheme has given the communication environment in the Northeast new life. The Chief Minister noted that increasing aviation connectivity amongst Northeastern states will be extremely beneficial for the area as a whole.
Sarma further added that Assam needs a museum to showcase the ethnic and cultural artifacts and goods produced in the Northeastern States. The Chief Minister promised the North Eastern Council (NEC) that Assam’s government will provide all assistance, including land allocation, if the regional statutory advisory body develops a detailed plan for such a museum.
Today’s Plenary was also attended by Minister of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) G Kishen Reddy, Minister of State for DoNER BL Verma, Assam and Nagaland Governor Professor Jagdish Mukhi, Governors and Chief Ministers of the States of the Northeast, along with a host of other senior dignitaries.