Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma said Assam continues to share a close and historic relationship with Mizoram and described the neighbouring state as a “big brother” while attending the swearing-in ceremony of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma in Guwahati. Speaking to reporters after attending the event, Lalduhoma said he had come to Assam on a personal invitation from Himanta Biswa Sarma and stressed the importance of maintaining strong ties between the two neighbouring states. “Mizoram has been a part of undivided Assam for a long time until it became a Union Territory in 1972 and Assam is like a big brother to the state. I have a good relationship with the CM and I came here on personal invite. We will ensure the maintenance of this relationship,” Lalduhoma said. The Mizoram Chief Minister’s remarks came at a time when northeastern states continue to work closely on issues related to regional security, border management and humanitarian concerns arising from unrest in neighbouring regions.
Responding to questions on the issue of infiltration, Lalduhoma said Mizoram is also facing challenges linked to the movement of people across borders, though the situation in Assam is different in scale.“We have a similar issue in Mizoram also but not as much as that in Assam,” he said.He added that Mizoram has been dealing with the inflow of refugees from Myanmar due to the ongoing instability in the neighbouring country. According to Lalduhoma, thousands of people have entered Mizoram seeking shelter over the past several months. “Sometimes we do have refugees coming in from Myanmar, which is a different issue faced by Mizoram alone,” he said. The Chief Minister also referred to the situation in Manipur, saying some people affected by the unrest there have also taken shelter in Mizoram.
“Since some problems are there in Manipur also, we have a few thousands coming to Mizoram, seeking shelter. We need to feed them, educate their children, accommodate them, which is our responsibility,” he said.Lalduhoma’s comments reflected the humanitarian burden being faced by Mizoram as the state continues to provide relief and shelter to displaced people arriving from neighbouring regions. At the same time, he underlined the need for cooperation among northeastern states in dealing with common concerns while maintaining cordial political and administrative relations. Several Chief Ministers, Union Ministers and senior leaders from across the country attended the oath-taking ceremony of Himanta Biswa Sarma in Guwahati. The event marked the beginning of a new term for the BJP-led government in Assam.
