Barak Valley opposition legislators decide to stand with Govt for steps to solve Assam-Mizoram border dispute

Silchar, July 30: In an interesting development, legislators from the three districts of Barak Valley, cutting across party lines were seen in one frame echoing voices of solidarity to save Assam land from repeated attempts of encroachment by Mizoram in particular.

Urban Development Minister Ashok Singhal, who is also the Guardian Minister for Cachar district on Friday informed that a meeting was held with all the MLAs of Barak Valley and 11 out of the 15 MLAs attended the meeting while some others including Minister of Forest and Environment Parimal Suklabaidya were contacted virtually and all of them were unanimous about their stand to support the Government in chalking out a permanent solution to the issue of saving Assam land from the recurring problem of encroachment.

"I am happy that all the MLAs of Barak Valley (even from the opposition) are together and have resolved to stand together and support the Government and the Chief Minister on how to save Assam land amidst the crisis" said Singhal.

Assam Pradesh Congress committee working president and North Karimganj MLA Kamalakshya Dey Purkayastha said " As elected representatives, we have certain responsibilities and it is time we must stand together for saving Assam land and for ensuring the safety of the people of Barak valley. "In the meeting we have decided that while we can debate in the Assembly over decisions of the ruling party and the opinions of the opposition, in such a crisis, when Assam land is being encroached , we must stand together with the Government and extend support to whatever decision it takes in solving the border dispute forever. We have also decided that action must be taken against SP of Kolasib district of Mizoram who had allegedly supported the miscreants in Mizoram that led to the violence and for which we lost six of our policemen and many including former Cachar SP sustained injuries. We would propose the Government to take strong action against the Mizoram Police official. Also, we have decided to send a letter before the Rajya Sabha Speaker with a resolution adopted in the State Assembly against the Rajya Sabha MP from Mizoram who made the controversial statement in the media. We are shocked to hear such a statement from an MP who is supposed to be a responsible person."

AIUDF MLA from Sonai constituency Karimuddin Barbhuiya also condemned the incident of July 26 and said that his party welcomes the move by the Government in the interest of the state. "In times of crisis there can be no differences and hence we stand together to fight the crisis," Barbhuiya maintained. South Karimganj MLA and former Border Area Development Minister Siddeque Ahmed too expressed his support towards the Government on the issue. " We have decided to file a case against the Kolasib SP and would also urge the Rajya Sabha Speaker to take action against the Mizoram MP for his controversial statement amidst such a crisis," Ahmed said.

Interestingly, Singhal claimed that during his visit to Lailapur to take stock of the situation, some residents along the terrain showed him spots on the tinned roof with bullets allegedly being shot from across the interstate border.

Singhal displayed three bullets before the media saying, "People requested me to see the spots which were affected by the firing. Initially, I did not believe that civilians could be attacked as well. But as many as three persons brought three bullets which they said were shot.I have brought the bullets with me."