Kohima: Parliamentary Secretary for Border Affairs N. Thomas Lotha has asserted a harder stand on the Nagaland-Assam border issue and resolving the dispute, particularly the tension prevailing along the Dimapur-Karbi Anglong (Assam) border.
Official sources said Lotha, after paying a visit to Dikoi, Rilan Yan and Indisen yesterday, accompanied by SP (Border) James Kinghen, said the dispute at Dikoi has already claimed two lives. The firing incident at the Lahorijan Border Post of the Assam Police at Dillai, near Rilan Yan on June 1 had resulted in escalation of apprehension along the disputed Dimapur-KA border. ‘The killing of innocent villagers is unfortunate. So I outright condemn the firing incident (at Dillai),’ he said, while wishing swift recovery to the Assam Police personnel, who was wounded in the shootout.
On the Assam-Nagaland border dispute, Lotha said the Union government is also partly to be blamed. ‘I partially question the wisdom of the Central government. Why did it not properly demarcate the boundary between Assam and Nagaland when the latter was carved out of Assam,’ he questioned. In the same breath, he said Assam should respect Nagaland’s position. ‘We are requesting Assam to respect Nagaland’s position as we respect Assam’s position.’
Partially hinting at arm twisting tactics of the Assam government, he said Assam, having 14 Lok Sabha members, gets greater mileage in Delhi. He said Delhi is more prone towards Assam when it comes to the border issue between Assam and Nagaland.
Nevertheless, he said the doors are open to resolve the dispute. ‘If the Assam government is willing, I will definitely stretch out an olive branch to my counterpart in Assam and to work out an acceptable formula for peace in the border (while) exploring all possibilities for lasting settlement,’ he said. (UNI)
