TCLPF opposes Assam-Arunachal border MoU; submits memorandum to CM Pema Khandu

TCLPF is demanding a resurvey and discussion of the Changlang Tinsukia district's land matter with its counterpart

The Tirap Changlang and Longding People’s Forum (TCLPF), an apex organization representing the three regions of eastern Arunachal Pradesh has opposed the MoU signed by Assam and Arunachal governments on April 20, and submitted a memorandum to the Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Thursday against the MoU.

Speaking to Northeast Live, president of TCLPF, N. Changmi, said that the people of Changlang district are not happy with the MoU.

“As seen in the MoU, it was written that there was no dispute between Changlang district and Assam’s Tinsukia district. Even during the Namsai Declaration on July 15, 2022, 123 villages were reported as disputed areas, wherein Changlang district was not mentioned, which means the government didn’t take up the matter,” Changmi said.

Changmi questioned, “According to HPTC and the Tarun Chatterjee committee appointed by the Supreme Court, in several areas of Arunachal Pradesh, surveys of land disputed areas between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh did not occur, where Changlang district was also included, and it was written that 330 sq km of land was transferred to Assam, out of which 96.295 sq km was adjustment land allotted for Arunachal Pradesh, but in the latest MOU, this information has not been mentioned.”

Changmi alleged that while resolving the inter-state border dispute, the Arunachal government failed to raise the alleged issue of 330 sq km transferred from Changlang district to Tinsukia.

TCLPF is now demanding a resurvey and discussion of the Changlang Tinsukia district’s land matter with its counterpart.

In a move to resolve nearly five decades’ border dispute, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh signed a Memorandum of Understanding over disputed areas along the 800-km shared boundary.

The dispute between the two northeastern states pertained to 123 villages that stretch across 12 districts of Arunachal Pradesh and eight districts of Assam.

As per the MoU signed, disputes over 34 of these villages stand resolved. The disputes over 37 villages had been resolved through the Namsai Declaration of July 2022, in which the two CMs “agreed on principle over them”.

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