Our Correspondent
Kohima | March 22
Minister for border affairs, Y. Patton today stated that the dispute between Assam and Nagaland is over the inter-state boundary. The matter is subjudiced before the Supreme Court. Replying to an unstarred question by MLA Hukavi Zhimoni at the ongoing assembly session, he said the total area claimed by Nagaland in the disputed area is 4, 974 sq. miles as filed in the case before the Supreme Court.
On being asked to give “detail dispute land agreement” between Assam and Nagaland, the minister stated that “there is no dispute land agreement between Assam and Nagaland.” However, an interim agreement was made in 1972 and 1979 between the two states, following incidents that took place in the border areas.
On being asked whether the Government of Nagaland has a positive chance in the case, the minister stated that the case is subjudiced in the Supreme Court of India. In the meantime, co-mediators have been appointed by the Supreme Court to mediate a settlement of the dispute between Assam and Nagaland. The minister added that the process is continuing.
