Nagaland Deputy Chief Minister Yanthungo Patton called on Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma at his residence in Aizawl on Monday. According to Mizoram DIPR, during his visit, Y Patton expressed opposition to the fencing of India and Myanmar and stated that the border closure is unacceptable to the Naga people as a large number of Nagas live in Myanmar.

Your position and ours are the same, the Deputy CM is quoted as having said.

Nagaland shares a 215 km border with Myanmar and according to Naga Hoho, there are around 390 Naga villages across the international border. On the other hand, Mizoram shares 510 km border with Myanmar and is currently providing shelter to over 31,000 refugees who have fled the junta onslaught in the neighbour country since 2021.

Y Patton congratulated Lalduhoma on being elected the CM of the State and said that Nagas and Mizos are brothers and sisters by ancestry and therefore he is a common leader for both the communities. Extending an invitation to Lalduhoma to visit Nagaland, Patton mentioned that the State has had three Mizo Chief Secretaries and one additional Chief Secretary.

Lalduhoma assured that he would try to visit the neighbouring State in the future.

As a symbol of cultural exchange, Y Patton presented Naga traditional attire to CM Lalduhoma and his wife Liansailovi.

Later the Mizo CM appreciated the visit of the Deputy CM of Nagaland and the gifts in a post on X. He informed that during the visit the leaders “discussed crucial initiatives for the development of NE India and explored potential collaboration based on regional needs.”

Y Patton too in a post on X expressed happiness over the meeting and said, “We engaged in productive discussions concerning issues of mutual interest.”

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Naga Hoho highlights plight of Nagas living in Myanmar to Nagaland CM