Sunday, October 7, 2012

Barak Valley Peace Delegation meets Mizoram CM

Aizawl, Oct 8 : In a move to bridge the already widened gap between Assam and Mizoram following the recent boundary fiasco, Barak Valley Peace Delegation today met Mizoram chief minister Lal Thanhawla at his residential bungalow, and held a discussion with him on boundary issue and other important inter-state related matters.

Lal Thanhawla said that the boundary issue is to be settled by the two states of Assam and Mizoram and the central government, and as it will take long time in settling the problem it is the best to negotiate and solve all the problems through table-talk.

Regarding the erection of boundary pillar at Mizo paddy fields and demolishing the same is but a cowardice act, Chief Minister said, and mentioned his plan to discuss the boundary issue with higher authority.

Regarding entry of labourers at Vairengte without ILP referred to by Peace Delegation member, Chief Minister replied that "it is the best to continue what has been carried on since long time before." As we are all citizens of India, what we want most is to live with showing respect to each other" CM lalthanhawla said.

Regarding Hindustan Paper Mill in Cachar, Lal Thanhawla said that bamboo is a national asset, and therefore it is planned to be utilised it helpfully and skilfully, for which Mahal system has also been stopped.

In order that bamboo may produce as huge profit as possible for the Mizos as one chipping plant has been set up, the Mizo chief minister said, and assured the delegation members that he will decide on how to provide such chipped bamboo to meet the requirement of the Paper Mill.

Lal Thanhawla also talked on the proposal and request of the delegation members to place a Public Relations Officer at Mizoram House in Silchar and to set up a Grievance Cell in order to bring immediate solution in time of any arising of problems between the two states.

They also proposed to set up Integration Camp both in Barak Valley and in Mizoram.

Delegation leader Sharif Laskar appreciated Lal Thanhawla as possessing a leadership quality and a man who stands on his promise, and thanked the Chief Minister for many things that he said.

The delegation comprises 21 members; one of them being a representative of minority students' body from Guwahati.

Media persons and advocates also participated in the meeting.

The visiting delegation left Mizoram today itself.

Last month, tension had cropped up in the Mizoram-Assam border following the distmantling of a border pillar near Vairengte and Dhalai.

Constituted by the state government of Mizoram as an initiative on the boundary dispute issue with Assam, Mizoram State Boundary Committee (MSBC) had submitted its finding reports to the state government.

Following the volatile situation, measures by both Mizoram and Assam governments were taken.