Guwahati, May 24: Assam and Meghalaya Chief Ministers will visit West Jaintia Hills and Karbi Anglong districts in June as part of Confidence-Building Measures, where there has been much instability and fighting in recent years between the Karbi and Jaintia populations.
Assam Chief Minister Himanata Biswa Sarma told reporters after the first official CM-level meeting between the two states on the second phase of border talks, to resolve the remaining six areas of difference between the two states, in Guwahati, “From today, the regional committees of both the states will start meeting, visiting the other state’s sites or areas, where difference still exists.” As a confidence-building gesture, the Chief Minister of Meghalaya and I will visit Karbi Anglong and the Jaintia Hills region where there is currently some disturbance in late June.”
“The people on both sides will feel confident and assured that both states will resolve the differences, resolve the dispute in the spirit of the long-established friendship between the people of Meghalaya and Assam,” CM Sarma stated.
The Assam Chief Minister hoped that through conversation and mutual trust and confidence, the concerns and divisions could be resolved.
The Regional Committees will present their findings by the end of July, followed by a CM-level review meeting.
“This is the beginning of the process to find a solution for the remaining six areas of difference,” Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma stated.
