Our Correspondent
Kohima | September 14
A meeting of the Nagaland’s Legislative Assembly (NLA) Select Committee to examine the Nagaland- Assam Border issue and Select Committee on SARFAESI Act, 2002 took place here today at NLA secretariat under the chairmanship of Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio.
The members of the Committee including both MPs – KG Kenye (Rajya Sabha) and Tokheho Yepthomi (Lok Sabha) attended the meeting and thoroughly discussed the related matters.
Assam –Nagaland border issue
Nagaland’s Horticulture and Border Affairs Advisor Mhathung Yanthan said that today’s meeting was just an ‘ice breaking meeting’ since the constitution of the NLA Select Committee on Nagaland –Assam Border issue.
“We have discussed on the background and genesis and made ourselves better understand the position,” Yanthan told the media persons after the meeting at the NLA Secretariat.
Since this is the first meeting of the Committee, we decided to meet often; he said, adding that the department of border affairs has been given the task to work out the modalities as to how the issue can be settled amicably.
On being asked whether the Committee has any plans to meet the Assam government before submitting its report to the state assembly, he said, “We will have to sit again, to prepare our ground, and also make necessary report.”
Definitely, we will have consultation with Government of Assam and also the Union Ministry, he added.
Yanthan also told the media persons that Nagaland government has always been demanding settlement of the issue outside the court and also to constitute Border Commission.
“But, this has not come about. The matter is now lying in the Supreme Court,” he said.
We are definitely trying to solve this issue outside the court, he added.
Later, opposition leader and Naga People’s Front (NPF) Legislature Party leader TR Zeliang also told the media persons that, with the present chief minister of Assam having friendly relationship with Nagaland and with the intervention of the Home Ministry, both states can come together, sit across the table and settle the border issue amicably.
He also stated that today’s meeting felt the need to constitute local bodies of both the state so that they can sit together on the advice of both the state governments and sort out the matter.
SARFAESI Act, 2002
Nagaland’s Planning & Coordination, Parliamentary Affairs and Land Revenue Minister Neiba Kronu said, “We are trying to our best to see that this bill (SARFAESI (Securitization and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest) Act, 2002) is introduced in the winter session.”
He informed media persons that SARFAESI Act, 2002 will be tabled in the winter session of NLA.
Kronu said that the committee will also have consultation with the State Level Bankers’ Committee soon.
Sharing the opinion of the Select Committee, Kronu said “If our lands are protected and if the banks are not allowed to sell the properties to outsiders, I think we are safe.”
He said the government would convey the same to the State Level Bankers’ Committee.
Kronu admiited that there was some ‘communication gap’, but added that things are “almost getting cleared.”
Probably, they will also agree, the minister said.
During the meeting, the Committee also reportedly took the opinion of K N Balagopal, Advocate General Nagaland.
Regarding discussion on land reforms, Kronu said that the Committee was of the opinion that it is time that Nagaland should have its own land laws.
In this, he said that the government will see that the draft is prepared and examined.
