NCP: Naga political issue & oil exploration 2 separate issues
Guwahati: The Nationalist Congress Party declared on April 25 that the Nagaland government’s initiative for oil exploration with the Assam government and the following decision to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the same will help in the development of money and employment in the state.
The Naga People’s Front (NPF) was criticised by the NCP for placing unnecessary obstacles in the way of the state government’s attempts to promote economic growth in the region. The NCP asserted that the NPF’s reference of the Naga political issue in the context of oil exploration is entirely different.
The Naga Political Groups, especially the Naga People’s Front, have criticised the state government of Nagaland for undertaking mineral exploitation on the unsettled and unresolved boundary areas while objecting to the oil exploration MoU signed between Nagaland and Assam.
The NNPGs described the industrial exploration as being protected by Naga political and historical sacredness and referred to the agreement between the two states as merely a stop-gap measure.
Speaking to the media on the issue, NPF leader A Kikon said, “NNPGs have the right to make an opinion. Objecting without knowing intent may be hasty”.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Nagaland counterpart Neiphiu Rio had a one-on-one meeting to settle the long-running border dispute between the two adjoining states.
Nagaland CM Rio also revealed that both states had made up their minds to move through with a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on oil exploration in the contentious areas along the interstate line so that oil can be mined and revenues divided between the adjacent states.
