Agartala, Dec 26: Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha raised key concerns regarding the India-Bangladesh border during the recent plenary session of the North Eastern Council (NEC) held in Agartala on December 21. The session, attended by Union Home Minister Amit Shah and DoNER Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, focused on regional cooperation and development.

Saha presented a detailed report on the 4,096 km long India-Bangladesh border, specifically addressing the 1,879 km stretch shared with four northeastern states: Tripura, Mizoram, Meghalaya, and Assam. He discussed border security issues, including ongoing barbed wire fencing projects and the role of security forces such as the BSF, CRPF, and state police in safeguarding the border.

The Chief Minister emphasized the positive outcomes of the NEC plenary in enhancing coordination among northeastern states and its benefits for Tripura. He also highlighted other significant events held during the session, including a bankers’ conference, a national cooperative conference, and a meeting with the North East Space Application Centre (NESAC), where ISRO Chairman S. Somanath was present.

A key moment during the session was Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit to the Bru resettlement village in Tripura. Shah reviewed the implementation of rehabilitation schemes for over 37,500 Bru tribals displaced by ethnic violence in Mizoram in the late 1990s and 2009. The Union Home Ministry has allocated Rs 821 crore for their resettlement and welfare.

Saha also addressed criticism from Tripura Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) President Asish Kumar Saha, who questioned the benefits of the NEC plenary. The Chief Minister defended the session, highlighting its positive impact on Tripura’s development.

In addition, Saha condemned the Congress party’s response to Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s comments on Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, accusing the party of hypocrisy and calling for an apology for their historical treatment of the architect of India’s Constitution.