Assam CM concerned over Muivah's stress on sovereignty

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Monday expressed concern over NSCN (IM) general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah's statement that there was no question of giving up the demand for Naga sovereignty.

"This is the reason I have been apprehensive about the framework agreement between the Centre and NSCN (IM) from the beginning. I am urging the central government to make the clauses of the agreement public," Gogoi said.

Addressing a gathering on August 14 at NSCN (IM) central headquarter at Hebron in Dimapur, Muivah said they had not compromised on the demand for sovereignty and integration of all Naga areas during the peace negotiation with the centre.

Gogoi said: "We admit that the Naga agitation is one of the oldest agitation. But we also want to know to which direction it is moving? We want to know whether the frame work agreement includes 'Nagalim'?"

He also adding that the Assam government would not agree if there was inclusion of Assam's territory in the 'Nagalim'.

"Forget about the territory, we are not ever allowing the extension of ceasefire with the NSCN (IM) to Assam areas.

"During the Vajpayee government's time, there was a move to extend the NSCN (IM) ceasefire to Assam. However, we have opposed it because we knew that they would claim the territory later if we agree to extension of the ceasefire to Assam," Gogoi added.

"Centre's interlocutor for the Naga talks, R.N. Ravi had said he had met the Manipur chief minister several times over the issue. However, he had not met me. They (BJP) has seven MPs here, but they were also ignored by the centre on the issue of Naga peace deal," he said.

He also appealed Prime Minister Narendra Modi to revive the Special Category status the state is enjoying since 1969.

The Naga peace accord, between the central government and the NSCN (IM) was signed on August 3 in Delhi in the presence of the prime minister.