The chief ministers of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh on Thursday signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), putting to rest the five-decade-long border dispute between two the two eastern states.
The MoU was signed by Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma and his Arunachal Pradesh counterpart Pema Khandu in presence of Union home minister Amit Shah and law minister Kiren Rijiju. Sarma called the pact a "big and successful" moment, while Arunachal’s Khandu termed it "historic"
Home Minister Amit Shah also said that the pact was a "historic occasion" that resolves the issue regarding the boundary.
Assam and Arunachal Pradesh share an 804.1 km-long border.
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The draft of the MoU was discussed earlier this week and given the final shape. The copy, finalised by Assam, was then sent to Arunachal Pradesh.
The two states have been engaging in discussions to resolve the border disputes with Sarma and his Arunachal counterpart Pema Khandu signing the Namsai Declaration on July 15 last year wherein they had pledged to find solutions soon.
Arunachal Pradesh, which achieved statehood in 1987, had said that several forested tracts in the plains that had traditionally belonged to hill tribal chiefs and communities were unilaterally transferred to Assam.
A tripartite committee was appointed which recommended that certain territories be transferred to Arunachal Pradesh from Assam, which the latter had contested.
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(With PTI inputs)
