Assam, Arunachal Pradesh ink MoU ending decades-long border dispute in presence of Amit Shah

The memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma and his Arunachal counterpart Pema Khandu

Union Home Minister Amit Shah with Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Arunachal Pradesh CM Pema Khandu during the signing of the boundary agreement between the two states, in New Delhi on April 20, 2023. | Photo Credit: PTI

Assam and Arunachal Pradesh governments on April 20 signed a deal in the presence of Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi ending decades-long border disputes along their boundaries. The memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma and his Arunachal counterpart Prema Khandu.

Signing of agreement between the States of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh for the settlement of a long pending inter-state boundary dispute in the presence of Shri @AmitShah Ji, today at 5 PM. pic.twitter.com/k2Y3UEuK2t

— Office of Amit Shah (@AmitShahOffice) April 20, 2023

Mr. Shah termed the border pact as a “historic” event and said that it has ended the border dispute.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma called the signing of the border pact a "big and successful" moment. Arunachal Pradesh CM Pema Khandu termed it "historic".

https://t.co/y3fuACXUSD

— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) April 20, 2023

The Assam cabinet on April 19 approved the recommendations given by 12 Regional Committees formed by the state government to resolve the decades-long border dispute issue with Arunachal Pradesh. The decision was taken during the state cabinet meeting held in Guwahati under the Chairmanship of Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma.

Announcing the cabinet decisions, Assam Minister Ashok Singhal said that the long pending border dispute issue between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh is going to resolve. The State cabinet also approved an investment of ₹8201.29 crore for 8 mega projects in the state and the MoUs will be signed on May 9. Around 6,100 people will be benefited from direct employment under these projects. The State cabinet also approved providing a monthly pension of ₹15,000 each to 301 Loktantra Senani of the 1975 Emergency.

On the other hand, the State cabinet approved a joint venture company of Oil India Limited and Assam Gas Company (51 per cent share) for city gas service. Earlier in March 2022, Assam and Meghalaya governments had signed a historic agreement here in the national capital to resolve their 50-year-old pending border dispute. The agreement was signed between Assam and Meghalaya two months after a draft resolution was submitted by the Chief Ministers of the two states to Amit Shah on January 31 for examination and consideration by the MHA.

The governments of Assam and Meghalaya had come up with a draft resolution to resolve their border disputes in six of the 12 "areas of difference" along the boundary.

(with ANI inputs)