North Eastern states plan to take up with centre about border fencing with Myanmar

Nagaland Government will discuss with other Northeastern states sharing border with Myanmar regarding the Centre's decision to fence the international border with the neighboring country, said Deputy Chief Minister Y Patton. Patton said this on the sidelines of a program held at police headquarters here on Monday. 

Asked about the Nagaland government's stand and the state cabinet's meeting with Assam Chief Minister and Convenor of North East Democratic Alliance, Himanta Biswa Sarma in Dimapur recently, he said the Nagaland government will be meeting other northeastern states sharing the Indo-Myanmar border and then will approach the Centre. 

"We will be discussing the matter (fencing the border) with other northeastern states and approach the Centre on the Union government's decision to seal the Indo-Myanmar border," he said. 

Sources said states like Nagaland Mizoram share a long border with Myanmar and the centre is already implementing the Kaladan Multi Modal transport project to reach goods to the North east through Myanmar’s port of Sitwe. Fencing the borders means this connectivity project needs to be folded up. Moreover tribals on both sides of the border have cultural and trade links for centuries and the border will pose threat to existing relations

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has announced that the Centre has decided to fence the entire India-Myanmar border to stop the free movement of people.