Our Correspondent
Kohima, Aug. 3 (EMN): Nagaland Chief Minister and leader of the House, Neiphiu Rio on Tuesday said that both Assam and Nagaland had completed withdrawal of security forces at Dessoi valley reserved forest and Tsürangkong valley.
He was responding to a starred question raised by Naga People’s Front (NPF) legislator Dr. Chumben Murry on the recent border issue between the two states, on the first day of the eight session of the 13th Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA).
The two-day monsoon session of the NLA began on Tuesday and will conclude on Aug. 5 after a recess on Wednesday.
The chief minister said that he had a telephonic conversation with his Assamese counterpart Himanta Biswa Sarma, and discussed at length on how to maintain peace and diffuse tension in the border areas.
The chief secretaries of the two states had met on July 31 and greed to withdraw its forces within 24 hours; as a result, the withdrawal of forces from both the sides was completed on Aug. 1, he told the House.
It was also decided at the chief secretary-level meeting of the two states to employ satellite mapping in order to check the disputed area and avert fresh activities that may take place in the area in future, he added.
He sought more time to deliberate on Nagaland's border issue, to which the NLA Speaker granted and listed the matter for further discussion on Thursday.
Dwelling on the border issue, Rio said that Union Home Minister Amit Shah had urged all the north-eastern states during the recently held NEC meeting to resolve inter-state border disputes in the region, 100 days before India celebrates 75 years of Independence on Aug. 15, 2022. He added that the Centre was aware of the border disputes in the region.
He was of the opinion that Nagaland's border issue with Assam could be resolved with the supervision of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Dr. Chumben Murry queried whether it was true that Assam Chief Minister was planning to set up battalion camps at strategic locations along the Assam-Nagaland border. In such a scenario, he sought to know the stand of the state government and how it plans to counter the move.
On this, Deputy Chief Minister Y Patton, who is also the minister in-charge of Home, replied that the "state government had strengthened its manpower at Vikuto, Aosenden and Tsutapela Gate in order to counter the fresh attempts made by Assam to establish new BoPs. The state machineries are alert and prepared to offset any moves made by Assam".
However, it may be noted that Dy. CM's reply was prepared prior to the discussion between the two states on July 31.
In supplement to his question, Murry said that Nagaland Government had become a "little complacent" towards border affairs while the government of Assam was clear about its intention, ‘which is evident from the recent border issues’.
Saying that diffusing the tension was not enough, he urged the government of the day to create a mutual understanding and build rapport towards resolving the issue. He further urged the department concerned to be more active and be more flexible in the matter.
Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition TR Zeliang also warned that Nagaland had made mistakes in the past on border issues and urged the government not to make the same mistake again. He suggested that the state deploys forces in the border areas, if any agreement is in the offing between the two states. He further urged the government to bring about a formula to address the issue.
NPF Legislator Imkong L Imchen too expressed dissatisfaction at the statement issued by the chief secretaries of the two states.