Mokokchung, June 9 (MExN): Nine Legislators from the Nagaland Border areas (Tizit to Tenning Assembly Constituencies) collectively met Nagaland Chief Minister Nephiu Rio and expressed their concern over the present Assam-Nagaland border imbroglio.
A press release received from Press Secretary to Parliamentary Secretary Agriculture here today stated that the nine MLAs of Nagaland bordering Assam areas held an informal meeting in the Office Chamber of Dr. Benjongliba Aier, Parliamentary Secretary Agriculture on June 4 and deliberated upon the present border imbroglio with Assam and the proposed Foothill Road. The meeting highly appreciated the timely intervention of the DAN Government under the leadership of Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio in the present issue and also made some observations which were submitted on June 8, the release stated.
Highlighting observations, the release stated that the nine legislators expressed their feeling that “the MLAs from the Assam-Nagaland Border Areas should actively work together to address the issues as a matter of collective concern and to give active support to the Government all the time”.
Besides, the nine MLAs asserted that conflict in the border areas will continue as long as “Assam and Nagaland share the same border” and unless “a final resolution of the dispute”.
“Hence, some solutions with the Assam Govt. should be worked out at the earliest and our people should also be educated to exhibit utmost constraint for peaceful co-existence between the two neighboring State all the time,” the release stated.
The release also observed that “Assam-Nagaland Border issue is the concern of the State and not only of the people living in the border constituencies”. Therefore, all the Legislators of the State of Nagaland should “be briefed regularly on the ground reality and generate a sense of responsibility to this all-important issue”.
It also observed that there is an urgent need for stationing of enough police forces and creation of police outposts along the border areas at par with the Assam counterpart.
Moreover it observed that that the “Neutral Force, CRPF as per the 1972 Agreement is not a Neutral Force at all but an active force against Naga people in their activities as they are placed under the command of IGP, Assam”. The nine legislators therefore pointed out that the CRPF should be “placed under the joined command of the ADGPs of Assam and Nagaland and not just Assam alone as is the case now”.
Besides, while appreciating the move for the four-laning of the Foothill Road in Nagaland, the nine legislators “felt that such a mega project will certainly take a long time”.
“…Government should initiates to link all the possible roads along the border from Dimapur to Tizit at the moment, to enable a single but serviceable/motorable road for the time being, while Government waits for the resources for four-laning and till its process are completed.”
In this connection, the nine legislators observed that “the process can begin with GIS Mapping of the existing roads along the border which has been initiated by the Govt. at present, and that can be linked to create a single foothill road right from Khelma to Tizit along the foothill plain areas without considering political color but through the shortest possible road in the interest of all the people of Nagaland”.
The release stated that the nine legislators who met the Chief Minister on June 8 were: Namri (6th Tenning A/C), Dr. Benjongliba Aier (30th Alongtaki A/C), Mhonlumo Kikon (40th Bhandari A/C), Jacob (4th Ghaspani A/C), Tovihoto (1 Dimapur- I A/C), Amenba Yaden (21 Tuli A/C), Paiwang (41 Tizit A/C), Yolow (42 Wakching A/C) and Nganglang (49 Tamlu A/C)
