Centre’s negligence leads to inter-state boundary dispute in NE region: O Joy

NNN
Imphal, May 28

Sheer negligence of the UPA and NDA governments which have been ruling at the Centre all these years has caused disputes in the inter-state boundariesin the North Eastern region.
This was stated by senior politician Okram Joy in a press meet held today at his residence at Kakwa Huidrom Leikai, Imphal.Speaking to media persons, O Joy also reminded that a North East Political Forum was formed in 1981 and the representatives of the forum have been pushing right from the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and then Union Home Minister to the present government to bring a solution and end the boundary dispute in the NE reigion. However, the demand has not been fruitful so far.
Joy further added that each community of the region have their own interests and subsequently, a vague boundary between the states has been causing conflicts between them from time to time. The burning topic of land encroachment at Dzuko Valley is one of such conflicts. He added that in such a crucial juncture, he said that all should remember the ugly incident of the Merapani area conflict between Assam and Nagaland in 1979, at which state forces from both sides attacked on each other and more than fifty lives were lost in the conflict. Even today, such boundary conflicts cropped up from time to time in the region which is very unfortunate. A doubt even arose to the minds of the North East people whether the Centre is intentionally creating a ploy to cause hatred among the communities of the region, he added.
The senior politician suggested that a Boundary Commission of the states of the region should be set up to bring a solution. The Manipur Government should also do its maximum capability in the issue and should pressurise the Centre after having a Cabinet decision. He opined that the issue is not an easy one, however, the state government is not taking it seriously. In the worst case scenario, if the state government cannot solve the conflict, it should at least seek Centre’s intervention into the matter, further said O Joy.