No boundary with Assam except Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation Act

Aizawl, Aug 13 (UNI) Mizo Zirlai Pawl(MZP) president PC Laltlansanga today declared that Mizoram has no boundary with Assam other than that of the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation Act 1875.

Speaking on his dialogue with Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, the MZP president said this to the latter and added, ''Now that Mizoram has become a full-fledged state, it is time that the Inner Line Forest Reserve be handed over to its owner, that is Mizoram's Forest department.'' The MZP today returned after holding talks with Assam's high officials regarding the border issue.

State Congress president Lal Thanhawla today alleged, ''Had the Mizo National Front leadership been bold enough, the long-standing border dispute between Assam and Mizoram would have been solved with the signing of the historic India-MNF peace accord of 1986.

''Those documents were kept as top secret by the Congress ministry in Mizoram. When the peace talks were nearing its end, we handed the documents over to the MNF leaders in New Delhi, urging them to use as weapons to claim the lost territory, Lal Thanhawla said adding, ''We repeatedly told them this would be our last chance to get back the lost territory. However, the MNF leaders were too eager to become ministers in the stillborn Mizoram state, so they dared not bring up the issue,'' Lal Thanhawla recollected.

About the press conference held in Assam, the MZP leader said, ''The press conference turned out to be a huge success. It was a privilege for us to tell at least the regional media that there exists a border dispute between Assam and Mizoram.'' He also said they had the support of the All Assam Students' Union in their campaign for early solution to the border dispute.

UNI