Former CM Tarun Gogoi questions stalled SC hearing over disputed Assam-Nagaland areas

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Former CM Tarun Gogoi expressed his displeasure over the slow-paced approach towards finding a solution for the disputed areas between Assam and Nagaland. The Assam government approached the Supreme Court (SC) seeking a solution for the conflict between the two neighbouring States. However, for the past three years, the hearing in the process under SC has come to a standstill.

Addressing a press meet on Saturday, Gogoi slammed the BJP-led government for its indifferent approach towards the issue and questioned the silence being maintained by Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and NEDA convener Himanta Biswa Sharma over it.

“Various commissions were formed to settle the disputes with Nagaland but the issue was never resolved. Like during the time when the Central Government formed the KVK Sundaram Commission in 1971, whose recommendations were rejected by Nagaland. Another commission was formed in 1985, which failed as well, after which the matter was moved to SC. Various senior officials of Assam government were present during the initial hearings but for a while now, there has been no stir in the proceedings of the hearing and everything has come to a stand-still”, said Gogoi.

The flag hoisting of free Nagaland done on August 14 was severely condemned by Gogoi and he raged that such audacity was never even attempted by the extremist group ULFA. He termed the entire incident an ominous sign and again questioned the silence maintained by the government over the incident.

Expressing his views over the resignations of APCC president Bhubaneshwar Kalita and Ex-minister Gautom Roy, Gogoi said that he had heard rumors of Kalita’s association with the Commonwealth Games scam. As for Roy, the ex-CM claimed that the former introduced him with APSC Chairman Rakesh Pal and requested his name to be included in the APSC board of names as part of the Bengali community, which earned Pal the prestigious position. “The current government does not desire an enquiry into the APSC scam which is the sole reason why Pal’s brother is still not arrested”, said Gogoi.

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