Mizoram Youth Congress on Wednesday wrote to President Ram Nath Kovind seeking his intervention to “immediately” resolve the Assam-Mizoram border dispute and lift the “economic blockade” on National Highway-306 in Assam’s Barak Valley.
The organisation also sought the President’s intervention to resolve border disputes among Northeast states.
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It has been alleged that certain organisations have imposed a blockade in the Dholai-Lailapur area on NH-306 disrupting all supplies, including life-saving medicines and Covid19 test kits, to Mizoram after the violent clash that took place near Vairengte town in Mizoram’s Kolasib district on July 26.
Mizoram Youth Congress alleged that the economic blockade has been backed by the Assam government.
However, the Assam government said neither the government nor other organisations are imposing any economic blockade against Mizoram.
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In its letter, the Mizoram Youth Congress alleged that a large contingent of heavily armed Assam police personnel intruded into Mizoram’s territory and forcibly captured a border outpost manned by Mizoram Police in Vairengte town on July 26.
It blamed alleged aggression by Assam and use of forces against civilians by the state police and also held Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who also holds the home portfolio, responsible for the escalation leading to the bloody clash.
At least seven people, including six Assam Police personnel and a civilian, died and scores were injured during the clash between the police forces of both the neighbouring states on July 26.
The State Youth Congress in its letter condemned the alleged economic blockade on NH-306 and the destruction of railway tracks in Assam that links to Bairabi town in Mizoram’s Kolasib district.
“National Highways and Railways are national property and hence, we urge for your immediate action to end the illegal and unconstitutional blockade of National Highway-306 and Railway movement into Mizoram and the forces behind these unconstitutional acts be dealt as per the law,” the letter reads.
It further alleged that journalists from mainstream media houses were denied entry into Mizoram by the Assam government “apparently to conceal the truth behind the July 26 incident”.
The Youth Congress urged the President to take immediate and effective measures to resolve the boundary disputes in the Northeast in order to establish peace and harmony in the entire region.
Meanwhile, members of the State Youth Congress and the party’s students’ wing National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) on Wednesday staged a protest in front of the Raj Bhavan at Aizawl to condemn chief minister Sarma for his alleged “aggressive policy” and economic blockade in Barak Valley.
Speaking on the occasion, the state youth wing president Dr. Lalmalsawma Nghaka questioned the validity and existence of the North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA), in which the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) is a part.
Alleging that NEDA was created by the BJP with the sole purpose to grab power in the Northeast, the Congress leader asked the MNF to pull out of the alliance.
Lalmalsawm also blamed the Centre for being tight-lipped over the prolonged economic blockade in Barak Valley.