Guwahati: A civil-society initiative of Naga-Assamese round table talks on Assam-Nagaland boundary dispute held here on Friday raised concern over the growing population of suspected illegal migrants and criminal activity in the vicinity of disputed stretches of Assam-Nagaland boundary contributed towards complication of the vexed boundary row besides straining relations between indigenous Assamese and Nagas.
Held under the aegis of city-based Nanda Talukdar Foundation (NTF), the conclave which was attended by some leading civil society leaders from both the states, advocated for regular dialogues at various levels to bring to an end to the festering distrust, suspicions and widening gulf between the two states.
The civil society leaders were of common opinion that there should be vigorous and sustained endeavour for enhancing people-to-people contact and both Assam and Nagaland governments and the Centre must seriously pursue the vexed issues that involved the two states for their amicable resolutions.
The round table unanimously resolved that there should be a permanent mechanism to continue the dialogue process between the two neighbours. In this regard, Asam Sahitya Sabha and Naga Hoho will initiate to form a Co-ordination Committee to build up a permanent Dialogue Forum between the two sides.
The Nanda Talukdar Foundation (NTF), which organized the round table,will co-ordinate between the Asam Sahitya Sabha and the Naga Hoho.
The meeting also came up with the opinion that people from the two states should collaborate in areas of art, literature, culture, sports, trade and commerce and environment protection in their individual capacities to bring in harmony and fight the border issues.
Both sides agreed that there should be some institutionalized mechanism from civil societies for effective interventions whenever some unwarranted incidents occurred in inter-state border areas. Noted social worker from Nagaland Niketu Iralu, expressed the hope that such a step would definitely improve relationship between the Nags and the Assamese.”
Nagaland’s Apex tribal, Naga Hoho’s president Chuba Ozukum while stressing on protecting the age-old relationship between the two neighbours expressed concern ovewr thegrowing population of illegal migrants.
Naga Mothers Association (NMA) adviser Rosemary Dzuvichu called for united efforts from women civil society leaders from both Assam and Nagaland in resolving differences and conflicts prevailing between the two people living across ‘disputed’ inter-state boundaries.
Pointing out that the root of Asom Sahitya Sabha lies at Kohima, Sabha president Dr Dhrubajyoti Bora said that such meeting of minds and hearts would “show us an way forwards” towards resolving many conflicting issues.
The Naga delegation was led by Niketu Iralu and comprised of Naga Hoho’s president Chuba Ozukum, NMA adviser Prof Rosemary Dzuvichu, Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) president Subenthang Kikon while Assam was represented by noted academic Prof.
Udayan Misra, Asom Sahitya Sabha president Dr Dhrubajyoti Bora, the AASU chief Adviser Dr Samujjwal Bhattacharya, Purbanchaliya Tai Sahitya Sabha president Dr Dayananda Borgohain, former Upper Assam Commissioner Sayad Iftikhar Hussein among others.
