Border disputes cannot be resolved by aggressive stands: James Sangma

NPP gearing up for Assam elections

Morung Express News
Dimapur | December 8

NPP National General Secretary James Sangma said that a concerted effort is required to resolve the inter-state border issues plaguing the north-east. Sangma, who is also a Minister in the NPP-led government in Meghalaya, made the remark in response to a query at a press conference in Dimapur today. 

He made a stopover in Dimapur after attending a party related meeting in Diphu, Karbi Anglong on December 7, where the NPP forged a deal to merge the People’s Party of Karbi Anglong with the former.  

The NPP appears to be set on making inroads setting up party units in election bound Assam. 

With regard to the prevailing border disputes, he said that it cannot be fought by way of taking rigid and aggressive stands. He said, “I think any dispute is solvable if we all sit down and have a positive dialogue. The need is for both parties, whenever there is a border dispute, to really be respectful of each other, understand the sentiments of each other and start off with that note and through dialogue come to a resolution.”

Stating that Meghalaya and Assam as well as Nagaland and Assam have been having border disputes, he expressed optimism that the parties will be able to resolve it sooner than later. He added that the process is ongoing and the issue is not something that can be resolved in an instant. 

While regular dialogues between the Chief Ministers is what everyone would desire, he however maintained that for “many reasons, Chief Ministers cannot spare the time to really come together.”

According to him, given the practical reality, he said that the Chief Secretaries of two respective states should meet often as discussions at the Chief Secretarial level “can be very fruitful.”

As far as the NPP as a party was concerned, he said that it is in essence north-east centric with a national outlook. “We have heard a lot of rhetoric in the past about bringing change but I think that change has to start from a deep-seeded understanding of the region, which is totally lacking in terms of parties which have come from different parts of India… that understanding we believe is in the NPP because our leaders are from the NE,” he said. 

NPP Nagaland state unit President Dr Andrew Ahoto Sema held that the party with enough MPs from the region can be a big voice in the Centre. According to him, the desire to put up a united voice for the region was one of the main reasons for the People’s Party in Karbi Anglong to merge with the NPP. 

It was also informed that NPP state General Secretary Lima Longkumer was made incharge of Karbi Anglong for the upcoming Assam Assembly elections.