Assam chief minister, Sarbananda Sonowal told a delegation of the Naga Hoho that “dialogue and not disengagement” was the answer to the burgeoning distrust among the people living along the Assam-Nagaland boundary.
Sonowal also pledged with the Naga Hoho for peaceful coexistence of people of the two neighbouring states notwithstanding the long standing unresolved boundary disputes.
According to Assam CMO, the meeting with the Naga Hohoa delegation was held on Friday evening at Guwahati. During the meeting, Sonowal endorsed the idea of having constant interaction among the people living in the border areas for their peaceful coexistence. He also emphasized on having a forum where issues confronting both the states could be discussed in a congenial atmosphere, to find a way out for solution. Asserting the need for frequent sporting and cultural exchanges between people of the two states, Sonowal called for a “collective will” for normalizing the situation prevailing along the border areas of Assam and Nagaland.
He also urged the people living in both sides to maintain peace and harmony and thwart all nefarious designs of “anti-social elements who have been trying to blow the small incidents to a large inter-state confrontations”.
It may be mentioned that as part of a civil society initiative being carried out by Nanda Talukdar Foundation, Guwahati to build bridge between the two states, the Naga Hoho called on Sonowal and discussed outstanding issues and vowed to “work together” for their early solution.
The six-member Naga Hoho delegation was led by its president, P. Chuba Ozukum. Other members present were general secretary Mutsikhoyu Yhobu, secretary (Adm) Chitho Nyuso, secretary Assembly Elu Ndang, secretary customary and cultural affairs Mhonchumo and secretary Finance Riinguto. The convenors of the civil society initiative senior journalists Samudra Gupta Kashyap and Mrinal Talukdar were also present at the meeting.
Acknowledging Sonowal’s concern, Naga Hoho president also called for peaceful coexistence and increased civil society interactions to ease out the differences and misunderstanding. Ozukum also invited Sonowal to Nagaland, which he had accepted in principle.
It may be mentioned that the All Assam Students Union (AASU) and Axom Sahitya Sabha also took keen interests in the process with AASU actively associating itself with cultural and sporting activities in border areas while Sabha has activated its oldest branch in Kohima.
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