District Chamber of Commerce and Industry from seven districts in Nagaland - Mokokchung, Tuensang, Wokha, Zunheboto, Longleng, Noklak and Kiphire – assert that they will find alternative means in view of the economic blockade in Maraini, Assam
Dimapur, December 2 (MExN): The business community of Mokokchung, Tuensang, Wokha, Zunheboto, Longleng, Noklak and Kiphire on Wednesday appealed for lifting of the economic blockade imposed along National Highway 702D at Mariani under Jorhat district of Assam.
In a statement issued on December 2, the business community in Nagaland stated that they have been “minutely observing the situation in close coordination with the respective district authorities ever since some Assam based organizations imposed an economic blockade by restricting movement of vehicles along National Highway 702D at Mariani…”
While appreciating the efforts to resolve the issue, they also noted that the problem is yet to be resolved. They also observed that “the Assam based organizations imposing the economic blockade at Mariani fails to comprehend the reality of the situation.”
“Inter-state border disputes are political in nature, which in the Assam-Nagaland case is exacerbated by historical wrongs, and they can never be resolved by economic blockades imposed by rogue elements,” they reasoned.
Economic blockades will only strain the age old ties between the people of the two neighbouring states thereby making it impossible to make room for any meaningful discourse to resolve the contentious border issue, they added. The districts’ business community added that the border dispute between Assam and Nagaland is sub-judice with the matter pending verdict at the Supreme Court of India. Further, forceful obstruction of National Highways and restricting movement of essential commodities are not only illegal but are also flagrant violations of human rights, they stated.
They also acknowledged that the districts affected by the ongoing economic blockade are almost entirely dependent on the markets of upper Assam, with Jorhat in particular, for trade and commerce. But while the ongoing economic blockade is causing inconvenience to these districts in Nagaland, “it is rather damning for the economy and the business community of upper Assam,” they added.
If the economic blockade is not lifted soon, the business community including traders and farmers in upper Assam would confront those imposing the ‘illegitimate and meaningless’ blockade at Mariani, they cautioned. In this regard, they appealed to the “peaceful and right thinking citizens of Assam, the government of Assam, the authorities at Jorhat and the business community of upper Assam to intervene and persuade those responsible…” to lift the blockade.
The statement appended by Presidents of 7 District Chamber of Commerce and Industry from in Nagaland - Mokokchung, Tuensang, Wokha, Zunheboto, Longleng, Noklak and Kiphire asserted that they view the economic blockade imposed at Mariani ‘very seriously’ and cautioned that they would find alternative means of doing business by looking beyond Jorhat and upper Assam.
