Asom youth body slams Nagaland govt for border tension

Guwahati, July 6 (UNI) The Nagaland government was today accused of propagating a 'hidden agenda' of grabbing land of Asom with the militant outfits of the state helping it in 'forwarding their designs'.

The allegation was made by the Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad (AJYCP) leadership, a day after Naga miscreants set ablaze three villages in Asom's Sivsagar district and killed three people.

The organisation also announced an indefinite economic blockade in Namtola of Sivsagar district, which connects Mon district of Nagalnd with Asom, from this evening. It threatened to start a total indefinite economic blockade against Nagaland if the border disputes were not resolved.

AJYCP advisor Dilip Patgiri said, ''The Nagaland government has a hidden agenda of grabbing the land of Asom.'' General secretary of the youth body Manoj Baruah alleged that the militant outfits of Nagaland were also engaging in encroaching upon Asom's land and the government was encouraging such a move.

He slammed the Asom government for 'failing' to protect the state's territorial integrity from the 'rapid and continual encroachment' of neighbouring states.

Mr Baruah pointed out that the government's plea that the border dispute was sub-judice was not enough to defend its 'inaction' as Nagaland was encroaching upon newer territory and not just the portion that was facing a court case.

AJYCP president Putul Dutta claimed that Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh had set up schools, built churches and even police stations in Asom, with Nagaland also including a large portion of Asom in one of its sub-divisions.

Mr Patgiri contended that magistrates appointed for officiating in the border areas by Asom government operated from the towns while their Nagaland counterparts regularly visited the areas, which was giving a fillip to Nagaland's efforts to encroach upon Asom's land.

He also criticised Asom ministers for 'failing' to visit the areas affected by violence. ''Even the top police officials have not gone there,'' he added.

The AJYCP advisor also took a dig at Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi for his current visit to the United States, without handing over charge to anyone formally.

The AJYCP leadership maintained that a pro-active role of the Asom government could have saved the state much trouble.

They also criticised the role of the Opposition parties in Asom for failing to highlight the issue in the proper perspective.

It also urged the civil society organisations in Nagaland to respond against the incident.

UNI