As expected, a political slugfest began immediately, with the chief ministers of both states blaming the police forces of the other side for initiating the violence. While Union Home Minister Amit Shah called Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and his Mizoram counterpart Zoramthanga to calm tensions, the social media spat between the heads of two state governments run by NDA members—the BJP in Assam and the MNF (Mizo National Front) in Mizoram—did not reflect well on the BJPled alliance. More so as Sarma is the convenor of the North East Democratic Alliance, an umbrella organisation of all non-Congress parties in the region, which includes the MNF.
Ironically, the clashes took place just two days after Shah’s visit to the Northeast, during which he had met the chief ministers of the region in Shillong and asked them to resolve all inter-state border disputes by 2022 when India will celebrate its 75th year of Independence. That now seems an impossible goal—with Assam now set to deploy 4,000 commandos to guard the border with Mizoram, it’s unlikely that a political solution will be found in the next one year.
This story is from the August 09, 2021 edition of India Today.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the August 09, 2021 edition of India Today.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
The Forbidding Fruit
The disturbed snow cycle, the price of imported urea, cheaper imports from the South Asian neighbourhood-the whole world, it would appear, has been conspiring against the apple farmers of Himachal Pradesh.
Chicken Soup for the Heart
Former veejay, actor and now travel influencer, Shenaz Treasury is out with a book based on past romances-All He Left Me Was a Recipe
CITY OF DREAMS
This anthology of stories about Mumbai is like the city itself-crowded and chaotic, but ultimately illuminating
Diverse Vignettes
Edited by Arunava Sinha, The Penguin Book of Bengali Short Stories is a landmark new anthology which includes several previously untranslated works
A BREATH OF FRESH PERSPECTIVE
Ganesh V. Shivaswamy brings a sharp and balanced approach to his three volumes on Raja Ravi Varma
Time Travel
An exhibition in Bengaluru is showcasing an unseen artwork by legendary artist Raja Ravi Varma
INDIA AT CANNES 2024
The 2024 Cannes Film Festival marks the first time in 30 years that India has a feature film in the Palme d'Or competition section. And there's lots more...
Cusp of Greatness
Shriya Pilgaonkar comes into her own as an intrepid reporter in Zee5's The Broken News
THE GREAT DISRUPTOR
Rapper SlowCheeta is trying to shake things up with his EP, Scene Mein Bawaal
Back to Roots
Known for his lavish musicals, theatre director Feroz Abbas Khan returns to classic theatre with his latest, Letters of Suresh