Governor assures APCC of taking up issue with MHA

Demand for making frame of Centre-NSCN(M) agreement public

By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, June 27: Assam Governor Banwarilal Purohit has assured the APCC of persolly taking up the issue of making the frame of agreement that the Centre signed with the NSCN(IM) public.

Meanwhile, Mariani MLA Rupjyoti Kurmi, who had been on an indefinite fast at Mariani demanding the Centre of making the frame of agreement public, withdrew his fast today following an assurance in that regard from the Governor and after the Jorhat Deputy Commissioner had met him. The MLA had to be admitted to Jorhat Medical College and Hospital as his condition had deteriorated. The Deputy Commissioner met him in the hospital.

“A strong doubt and confusion has surfaced for not making the clauses of the framework of the Agreement signed between the Centre and the NSCN(IM) public. Apart from this the state governments of the Northeast states have not been consulted before making this so-called Agreement which ought to have been done as per the Constitution of India,” the APCC leaders said in their memorandum submitted to the Governor, and added: “The people of all the Northeast States, including Assam, have the right to know about the details of the agreement. In this regard, we firmly declare that we will oppose tooth and il this Agreement if it goes against the interest of Assam and its people.”

The delegation further said: “Taking plea of this undisclosed Agreement, people of galand, even the local administration of galand under instigation of NSCN (IM), now claim large areas along Assam-galand border of Golaghat, Jorhat, Sivasagar, Charaideo, Karbi Anglong and Dim Hasao districts. During the past few months they have occupied large areas of agricultural land by way of coercion which were under exclusive occupation of the people of Assam. The local administration of galand started plantation and fencing with sonic ulterior motive to occupy the above land. Even some people of galand frequently visit the villages of Assam in the said areas and demand taxes…As a result of this, there is mounting tension along these border areas which may lead to retaliation and clashes at any time.”

The APCC team informed the Governor that Congress’ Mariani MLA Rupjyoti Kurmi has been on an indefinite hunger strike at Marianj demanding disclosure of the clauses of the framework of the so-called agreement.

The delegation demanded of the Governor to impress upon the Central Government to make public the said Agreement between the Centre and NSCN (IM); to ensure that there should not be any clauses in the framework of the agreement which are detrimental to the interest of Assam and its people; direct the Government of galand to maintain status quo in all the bordering areas of Assam and galand and to maintain peace and tranquility in the area; to stop forceful occupation of the agricultural land in occupation of the people of Assam, to stop plantation and fencing on the land of Assam by galand Government, to stop forceful and illegal collection of taxes from the people of Assam by ga people; to make a positive assurance on the mentioned issues so that MLA Rupjyoti Kurmi could be persuaded to end his hunger strike.

The team comprises APCC president Ripun Bora, Leader of Opposition Debabrata Saikia, former Chief Minister Bhumidhar Barman, former ministers Sarat Barkataky, Ajanta Neog, Rakibul Hussain, Wazed Ali Choudhury, MP Sushmita Dev, APCC general secretaries Ranjan Bora and Sailen Bora, APMC president Shez Yashmin Haque and others.

The Governor assured the APCC delegation that he would persolly take up the issue of making public the frame of agreement which New Delhi had signed with the NSCN(M) in August 2015, with the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). He told the Congress leaders that he would send the memorandum submitted to him to the MHA today.