Nagaland: Political Groups Oppose MoU With Assam on Border Areas and Oil Exploration

KOHIMA: Following the recent announcement by the Assam and Nagaland CMs on these issues, the Working Committee (WC) of Naga National Political Groups (NNPGs) has opposed the proposed signing of a Memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Assam and Nagaland for resolving border disputes and oil exploration.

The Nagaland chief minister was urged by the NNPGs to withdraw any kind of MOU with Assam on the long-standing boundary areas dispute and oil exploration operations contained in the document, pointing to the Naga historical and political sanctity. They termed any such agreement to be against morality and not acceptable to the stakeholders concerned.

Stating that the matter is being subject to intensive negotiations between the WC, NNPGs and the Government of India (Gol), the political groups denied that both Assam and Nagaland have the authority to negotiate or enter into joint agreements on oil exploration or agreement on the unresolved border areas.

The proposed solutions are at the centre of Indo-Naga political talks held recently, where these were negotiated and are only waiting for a final agreement between Gol and Naga negotiators, the NNPGs stated.

Further, the statement added that the proposed MOU on oil exploration, development and production activities on the disputed border areas would have serious consequences in the future.

The NNPGs said that the leaders should not consider the peaceful situation as a license to do anything they wish on land and resources. “They will be held solely responsible for my repercussions in the disputed areas,” they added.

It is pertinent to mention here that the governments of Assam and Nagaland last week agreed in principle to start oil exploration in areas along the disputed border between the two states.

The chief minister of Assam Himanta Biswa Sarma and Nagaland CM Neiphiu Rio held discussions in New Delhi on Thursday (April 21), following which, both parties had vowed to resolve the pending border dispute peacefully. Joint oil exploration in border areas of the two states was also discussed.

Nagaland CM Neiphiu Rio had said afterwards stated that his government has agreed to sign an agreement with the Assam government to facilitate oil exploration in disputed border areas of the two states.

The political groups in Nagaland has taken umbrage to the statement and warned against signing of any such accord without the consent of the stakeholders.

Also Read: Assam, Nagaland CMs Pledge to Peacefully Resolve Border Dispute

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