Dimapur, August 2 (MExN): The Rising People’s Party (RPP) has called for amending the State of Nagaland Act, 1962. In this regard, the RPP demanded the Nagaland Legislative Assembly to pass a resolution in the monsoon session asking the Government of India to amend the aforesaid Act, which would delineate the Nagaland state boundary “as per Point 12 of the 16 Point Agreement thus fulfilling the long felt aspirations of the Naga people.”
The RPP placed the demand through a press release, while stating, “The Indian Parliament can unilaterally alter the boundary of any state as per Article 3 and 4 of the Constitution. Therefore, it is very important that all the 60 lawmakers of the 13th Legislative Assembly pass a unanimous resolution requesting the GoI to amend the State of Nagaland Act 1962 by incorporating all the ancestral Naga-lands in Assam – including the areas under DAB, into our fold. Such an amendment in the parliament will fulfill Point 12 of the 16-Point Agreement.”
Making mention of the United Naga Tribes Association on Border Areas’ stand on the matter, the RPP held, “This option has never been pursued by the Nagaland government till date.” According to the RPP, the recent agreement between the state governments of Assam and Nagaland would only serve as “a stop-gap arrangement.”
It asserted that the border issue can be resolved only when Assam withdraws the case (Civil Suit 2, 1988) filed in the Supreme Court and a “tripartite political negotiation” is arrived between the Government of India (GoI), Assam and Nagaland. “Since this option is ruled out for now due to Assam’s arrogance, the only option left for the Nagas is to appeal directly to the GoI,” it added.
It further condemned the economic blockade imposed on Mizoram by Assam.
