Karaiba Chawang
Kohima | February 17
THE NAGALAND State Government today categorically said that it wants the Government of India to restore all the land from the then Nagas Hills which were transferred by the British to Assam in 1925 for economical and administrative convenience, and which was agreed upon by the latter through series of agreements like the 9 Points Agreement, Sixteen Point Agreement etc.
“This will only resolve the age old boundary dispute between the two sisters’ state of Assam and Nagaland”, said Nagaland Commissioner, TN Mannen in an exclusive interview with The Morung Express.
“I am waiting for the Supreme Court order”, said Mannen, referring to recent media reports, wherein the Apex Court had asked the two states to form a boundary commission within three weeks time.
“But I doubt Supreme Court order will do justice to the issue. It will surely ask for the formation of a local commission and if it is a local commission the verdict will go in favour of Assam”, Mannen said.
The Commissioner pointed out that the main bone of contention is that the Nagaland government wants the Government of India to resolve the dispute by restoring the land of the then Nagas Hills, which were transferred by British to Assam in 1925, while Assam wants to go in for a proper demarcation of the existing boundary.
Mannen disclosed that the Government of Nagaland had suggested that a Boundary Commission be formed to go into the nitty-gritty of the boundary dispute, and settle the dispute mutually without the involvement of the court.
A number of correspondences had been made to the government of India through the Chief Secretary and Chief Minister reiterating the urgent need for such a commission.
“We want the dispute to be settled once and for all, amicably”, said Mannen.
However, Assam favours the settlement through court, said Mannen, although cautioning that settlement through the court may further escalate the situation in the dispute areas, as it will involve a winner-loser situation. The Commissioner made it clear that Nagaland will never accept if the settlement comes according to the existing boundary line.
Morung Express News
