Overview
- Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma attended the closing day of the Behdienkhlam festival in Jowai on Thursday, wearing traditional Jaintia white headgear and saying he would 'jump into the pool' with locals next year.
- Meghalaya’s regional Voice of the People Party said organisers should not have invited Sarma and accused him of 'instilling a sense of insecurity' among people living in border areas.
- Assam leaders defended the visit as a message of goodwill and cultural engagement, while local BJP minister Sanbor Shullai accused the VPP of politicising a religious festival.
- The visit coincides with active border work by both states, with Meghalaya reconstituting three regional committees to survey six remaining disputed sectors and submit recommendations within 45 days.
- The dispute dates to 1972 and covers 12 sectors along an 855 km frontier; unresolved pockets have seen intermittent violence and at least seven deaths since November 2022, so officials say the field surveys will be closely watched for effects on local security and community trust.