Itanagar, Aug 13: Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president Bosiram Siram has appealed to the people of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh to maintain peace, restraint and communal harmony amid recent tensions along the inter-state boundary.
Siram said people of the two neighbouring states have shared centuries of peaceful coexistence, mutual dependence and cultural ties, and stressed that the recent confrontations should not be allowed to weaken this longstanding bond.
The APCC president held the BJP governments in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh responsible for what he described as negligence in effectively addressing the long-pending boundary issue. He alleged that recurring tensions along the boundary reflected a failure to deal with the sensitive issue with the seriousness it deserved.
“The lives, security, livelihoods and dignity of thousands of people residing in the border areas cannot be compromised,” Siram said, adding that governments have a responsibility to act swiftly and decisively whenever tensions emerge in sensitive areas.
He said the Arunachal Pradesh government should ensure adequate deployment of police and paramilitary personnel for regular patrolling, surveillance and confidence-building measures in vulnerable and disputed areas.
Siram also questioned the effectiveness of existing agreements and understandings between the two states, saying that the recurrence of confrontations at different locations raised concerns over their implementation and sustainability.
According to the APCC president, a lasting solution to the Assam-Arunachal boundary dispute requires a fair, transparent, constitutional and legally sustainable mechanism that has the confidence of affected communities and other stakeholders.
Siram appealed to all sides to reject confrontation, violence and economic blockades, stating that such measures hurt ordinary people the most. Small traders, farmers, students, workers, transporters and daily wage earners bear the brunt of disruptions to trade, transportation and movement, he said.
He emphasised that Assam and Arunachal Pradesh are closely interconnected economically, socially, culturally and geographically, with people of both states depending on each other for livelihoods, education, employment, trade and other opportunities.
The APCC urged the Assam and Arunachal Pradesh governments to rise above partisan considerations and work towards a permanent and mutually acceptable settlement of the boundary issue through constitutional and peaceful means.
Siram said a lasting resolution would not only prevent recurring tensions but also strengthen inter-state relations, promote economic development and create greater opportunities for people in both states.
“The boundary issue must be resolved permanently, peacefully and constitutionally, in the larger interest of both states and their people. Peace, harmony and coexistence must prevail over conflict and confrontation,” Siram said.
He also appealed to community leaders, student organisations, civil society groups and political parties to help maintain peace and tranquillity in affected areas and uphold mutual respect and brotherhood.