The Center should have trained and deployed all its manpower and resources abruptly bringing to an end to orchestrated attempts and advances of violence made by the Mizos and Assamese on their respective sides of the border. Instead, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswas Sharma and Mizoram Chief Minister Zormathanga entered into a fierce war of words and exchanges arousing and mobilizing sub-national passions and pride. Pressing people into taking law and order into their hands perpetuating anger, anarchy, and agony.
I understand that the border issue between the Northeastern states is more complex than the river water sharing issues and concerns of the South. Having said that I believe the constituents of North East Frontier Alliance- NDA partners should have sat with all their humbleness and humility in discussing and deliberating ways and means to tackle discontent and dissatisfaction accruing from the drawing of state borders and boundaries by their colonial masters. Can violence and vandalism be ever justified in the face of preserving sub-national identity and consensus?
It can’t be but for a center riding and ratcheting rhetoric of pride and triumphalism. Such avenues are but tokens inspiring people to take up mob mentality with all their force. Coming in the backdrop of Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit to Assam a few days ago, this asks for independent investigation and probe by a court-monitored SIT if not more than that. An act that can never be pardoned and forgiven is always in people’s memory. Leaving our heads hanging in shame as for the deliberate deplorability of the state in letting things go out of proportion.