Nagaland contemplating legal action against the Centre

Kohima, Mar 21 (UNI) The Nagaland government is contemplating a lawsuit against the Centre for "non-fulfillment of ''political promises''.

This was announced by state minister for Border Affairs H Khekiho Zhimomi on the floor of the Assembly yesterday.

Replying to a question on the status of the border dispute with Asom, Mr Khekiho said the state government was working on the options of outside-court settlement of the border dispute,the boundary commission and filing a lawsuit against the Centre for non-fulfillment of political promises.

Reacting to a supplementary question raised by Congress legislator Taka Masa, the Minister said the state government was seriously pursuing the matter. ''the Government is defined by population, territory and development and if we fail to defend our territory, we have to re-define the government,'' he said.

He said the Supreme Court's suggestion to the Centre for setting up a local commission and a appointing its chairman and members was not agreeable to the Nagaland Government.

He said Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio had written to the Union Home Minister earlier on September 17, 2004, reiterating the demand for constitution of a border commission, instead of a local commission.

Besides this, through a statement made on the floor of the House on March 22, 2005, he had appealed to the Centre and the Asom government for constitution of a border commission or settle the long standing dispute amicably outside the court.

The border affairs department of the state had also submitted a representation on February 3, 2006, to the chairman of parliamentary standing committee of the Union Home Ministry.

Mr Khekiho said he called upon all the members to forget political differences and party affliation and work collectively towards resolving the dispute in the greater interest of the state.

UNI AS SP LR BST1452