Zoramthanga dismisses political settlement of boundary issue

Aizawl Mar 10 (UNI) Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga today dismissed any political solution to the boundary dispute between Mizoram and Assam at the state level.

Addressing the 7th session of the Fourth Mizoram Legislative Assembly the House, Zoramthanga said the boundary issue was not something that can be settled through talks held at the Chief Ministerial level but it needs to be ratified through the Constitution.

''The boundary issue is not something that can be setttled at the chief minister's level. But there is a solution under the Constitution of India which would come under discussion in Parliament. In this respect, I have already approached the Prime Minister and the Home Minister. I hold high hopes that the problem would be solved through Parliament'', Zoramthanga said.

The Chief Minister also said while the criticisms from the Mizoram people's Conference and the Zoram Nationalist Party over the lack of action on the boundary dispute issue is understandable, criticisms from the Congress cannot be accepted since the Congress had been party to the signing of the memorandum of understanding by the MNF and the union government in 1986.

''The Mizoram Congress knows very well that the boundary issue was not taken up during the MNF's talks with the Centre because it could create a bottleneck in the peace talks. It was agreed between Rajiv Gandhi and us that the matter be left as it is since it could be settled constitutionally,'' Mr Zoramthanga said.

UNI SNR TJP MSJ SP1346