RPP leaders with public leaders of Ralan area after a meeting on July 28.
Morung Express News
Dimapur | July 28
Following its visit to Tzürangkong area under Mokokchung district where border issue continues with Assam, the Rising People’s Party (RPP) on July 28 visited Ralan area under Wokha district which also shares border with Assam and concluded that Nagas living in border areas with the neighbouring state were “orphaned and neglected” by the state government.
Briefing media persons in Dimapur about their visit on July 28, RPP President, Joel Nillo Kath said that the party leaders interacted with public leaders of various villages under Ralan area at Old Ralan village where the public of the area informed that they were “dissatisfied” with the state government for “not doing anything for them” while on the other hand, the Assam government has been proactive and building roads, schools and undertaking other developmental activities.
He reiterated the demand of the party to the state government to withdraw from the 1972 interim agreement stating that the withdrawal would render the Disturbed Area Belt (DAB) null and void and that the state would be able to exert administrative control over those border areas. Joel said that the demand for withdrawal from the agreement should be the common stand of all Naga political parties and Naga civil societies.
Supplementing him, another RPP leader, Hukavi T Yepthomi maintained that the demarcations as per the 1972 Agreement brought the Naga traditional and ancestral lands under DAB touching almost every district bordering with Assam. “So our demand is for the state government to withdraw from the Agreement so that DAB can be nullified and proper civil administrative and developmental activities can be undertaken by the state government,” he added.
Hukavi also said that the notification of 1875 has a clear-cut boundary demarcation starting from Golaghat till Barak River adding, “That is why state government should stand on that principle so that rightful Naga lands can be reclaimed.”
The RPP also demanded that the Tzürangkong foothill road be completed immediately and the incomplete Doyang Bridge measuring about 400 ft be completed soon.
Hukavi questioned as to why no expenditure was reflected in state government’s account with regard to the construction of Doyang Bridge.
Without going into further details, the RPP also called for revisiting and amending the 1971 NE States Reorganization Act.
Reacting to reports regarding Assam Chief Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma’s statement to deploy 4000 commandos in border areas, Joel said it was not a time to make such statements but a time for dialogue and the two states to come together to solve the issue.
