Youth Congress' presidents of five NE states blame Assam CM for border tensions

SHILLONG: 

The Youth Congress presidents of five northeastern states that share a border with Assam - Nagaland, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh have condemned the recent violent incident at the Assam-Mizoram border, claiming that incidents of aggression have increased since the appointment of Himanta Biswa Sarma as the Chief Minister of Assam.

In a joint press release issued on Wednesday, the youth Congress presidents of the five states -- Geli Eti Arunachal Pradesh), Mahananda Nungleppam (Manipur), Dr Lalmalsawma Nghaka (Mizoram), Richard Mrong Marak (Meghalaya) and Limayangba Longkumer (Nagaland), accused the Assam government of using force against its neighbouring states. 

"Civilians at the bordering states of Assam bear the brunt of these aggressions, where farmlands and crops and infrastructures are damaged forcibly, and civilians are harassed and intimidated frequently by armed Assam Police," read the release. 

According to them, these incidents are causing a lot of ill-feeling amongst the people of North East India and has caused serious damage to the unity and sisterhood of the North Eastern States. 

"The worsening of tensions shows the total failure of the North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA), and the ensuing situations have proven yet again that NEDA was never created for the development and unity of the North East States, but only to grab political power in the North-East by any means necessary by the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA)," stated the release. 

Holding the Assam chief minister responsible for the worsening of tensions between the North East States, the youth congress leaders have demanded the removal of Himanta from the CM post by the BJP leadership. 

On Tuesday, the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) said that Assam has border disputes with almost all the neighbouring states and, there has been no permanent solution to this problem till now. 

"In the name of settlement, they sit in AC rooms and hold talks while our soldiers are suffering out there at the borders," said the working president of APCC, Kamalakhya Dey Purksyastha. 

The Assam Congress had also demanded a judicial inquiry and the resignation of the State Home Minister following the violent clash with Mizoram recently that led to the death of five Assam police personnel and a civilian.

(Edited by Ibankyntiew Mawrie)

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