Protests erupt in Assam over fears of land shift to Nagas

The NSCN’s growing activities followed by a consultative meeting with Nagas living in Assam has led to an angry protest in Assam with the Congress intensifying its demand to make public the framework agreement between the Centre and the NSCN (I-M).

The protests erupted in several areas as the Congress accused the Centre of conspiring to give away encroached Assamese land to the proposed Nagalim. The Congress also organised a protest in Upper Assam on Saturday. The problem began with Assam BJP chief Ranjeet Dass’ statement that disputed land on the Assam-Nagaland border may go to Nagaland.

The NSCN (I-M) was also accused of giving extortion notices to shopkeepers and residents in border towns in Sibsagar district.

The growing activities of NSCN (I-M) followed by a consultative meeting with Nagas living in Assam have triggered a protest in Assam with opposition Congress intensifying their demand to make public the Framework Agreement signed between the Government of India and the NSCN (IM).

The state is witnessing a bitter protest in several areas as Congress accused that government was conspiring to give away encroached Assam land to proposed Nagalim.

The problem cropped up with a statement of Assam BJP president Ranjeet Dass who claimed that disputed land along Assam-Nagaland border may go to Nagaland. Meanwhile, NSCN (I-M) rebels were accused of serving extortion notices to shopkeepers and residents living in border townships of Sibsagar district.

Congress organised a protest in Upper Assam on Saturday which was

Congress organised a protest on Saturday which was attended by a large number of its workers besides senior party leaders including former CM Tarun Gogoi and others

attended by a large number of Congress workers besides senior party leaders including former chief minister Tarun Gogoi, opposition leader Debabrata Saikia and Congress MPs and MLAs. Assam and Nagaland have a boundary dispute and there are several areas upon which both the states lay claim.

The statement of NSCN (I-M) leaders also added fuel to protest as it claimed that the Framework Agreement is the highway for complete independence of the Nagas.

In what has created fear of conspiracy a consultative meeting convened by NSCN-IM leaders, village headmen and Naga representatives from the Rengma Naga Hills and Karbi Anglong in Assam underscored the need for getting back land for Nagas once a final solution is arrived at by the Centre and NSCN-IM.

The meeting was held at the NSCN-IM headquarters in Hebron, Nagaland. Taking note of these activities, All Assam Students Union. Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad, Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti , Bihattar Asomiya Yuba Mancha have also joined protest across the state against the proposed Nagalim and demanded the both Centre and state government to public the Framework Agreement signed two years back. “We will not allow a single inch of Assam’s land to be given to the proposed Greater Nagalim. The Framework Agreement was signed between the Centre and NSCN (IM) in August 3, 2015, but why it wouldn’t public yet. Both the union and state government should clear their stands about it,” AASU general-secretary Lurinjyoti Gogoi said.