Aizawl, 4 August: Mizoram Youth Congress on Wednesday wrote to President Ram Nath Kovind, seeking his intervention to “immediately” resolve the boundary disputes among Northeastern states and lift the ongoing economic blockade on National Highway-306 in Assam’s Barak Valley.
Certain organisations allegedly backed by Assam government have imposed blockade at Dholai-Lailapur area on the NH-306, disrupting all supplies, including life-saving medicines and COVID-19 test kits, to Mizoram after the violent clash that took place near Vairengte town in Mizoram’s Kolasib district on July 26.
However, Assam government said neither the government nor organisations are imposing blockade.
In its letter, the 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 strongly blamed the alleged aggression by Assam and use of brutal 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 cops, died and scores injured from Assam and Mizoram sides in the fierce gun battle between police forces of two states on July 26.
The Youth Congress in its letter also condemned the alleged state-sponsored economic blockade on NH-306 and 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’s Youth Congress and the party’s student wing National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) on Wednesday staged a protest in front of Raj Bhavan here to condemn Sarma for his alleged “aggressive policy” and economic blockade in Barak Valley.
Speaking on the occasion, Youth Congress state president Dr Lalmalsawma Nghaka questioned the validity and existence of North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA), in which the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) is part of it.
Alleging that NEDA was created by BJP with the sole purpose to grab powers 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.
~Eastmojo