SHILLONG, SEPT 23: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Wednesday downplayed the recent tension along the inter-state border following the Maikhuli incident, stating that such skirmishes have been occurring for the past 54 years since statehood.

“These border skirmishes have been happening for the last 54 years since our statehood. It is not something that happened yesterday or the day before yesterday. It happens once in a while because there are tensions, because there are areas of differences and because obviously misunderstandings do happen in these places,” Sangma told reporters.

He said the government’s endeavour is to communicate and coordinate with its counterpart at different levels to ensure the situation normalizes.

“In the long run, the best and the only solution is to actually find a permanent solution to this. But that again is not something that happens very easily because it has been an issue that has been there for 54 years,” he said.

The Chief Minister added that the government is working towards resolving the border dispute and has made some headway in certain locations.

“As you know, in some locations we have been able to make some steps forward and find some kind of resolution. We will continue to work towards finding resolutions for others also, but it is a difficult subject, which is why most governments could not resolve it in the last 54 years,” he said.

“We will continue to ensure that we work towards it and, more importantly, ensure that whatever differences and problems that come up, we resolve at the local level to ensure that there is peace,” Sangma added.