[dropcap]I[/dropcap]NITIALLY Naga Students’ Union, Shillong led by its President Timikha Koza developed diplomatic friendship with All Assam Students’ Union(AASU) and supported its movement against illegal Bangladeshi immigrants in Assam in the middle 70s. Then NSF entered into scene to extend its wholehearted support to massive AASU movement on foreigners issue which shook the State of Assam. The reasons for NSF to lend its support to AASU were humane and legal. It was the realization that illegal Bangladeshi immigrants mostly used Assam as its base and passage through which foreigners used to come to the foothills of Nagaland. It was therefore felt that those illegal citizens were better warded off at source in Assam which would then indirectly and ultimately ease the burden of Nagaland in the long run. Had it been not so, it would then become a menace to Nagaland despite the existing restrictive laws. The other reason was that to Nagaland, Assam will remain an important neighbour as it is the gateway of Northeast. Therefore, it was most imperative for NSF to show its solidarity with AASU as it was in need of such support. Supporting AASU’s movement against foreigners was one of the top agenda of NSF, which ultimately brought the two organisations to closer ties.
In the light of the importance of the friendship between the two entities, and to enter into a formal pact, NSF invited AASU to Kohima in connection with its historical cultural event. My counterpart Mr. Prafula Kumar Mahanta, President, AASU and myself signed the ‘Joint Declaration’ on 4.12.1981 at Kohima. I believed the document is maintained by NSF.
Out of AASU, a regional political party called Assam Gana Parishad (AGP) was born, and ultimately my counterpart became the Chief Minister of Assam. Initially the AGP Govt. took up the foreigners issue with zeal, but as time went by the tempo receded. And as AGP was reduced to opposition change of guards came with new policies in respect of Assam-Nagaland border issue. Intervention of Centre Govt. is always found to be to our disadvantage.
What NTC has suggested to sort out the issue outside the court and through mutual respect is the better option, I believe.
-Z. Lohe
