DIMAPUR, JUNE 11 (MExN): The Political Affairs Committee (PAC) of the Nagaland government held a meeting at the residential office of Nagaland Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio on June 11. The meeting deliberated on the Assam-Nagaland border dispute, the issue of taxation by Naga national groups and the Naga peace process.
A copy of the PAC meeting’s resolutions, made available to the media, informed of the PAC’s concern at the ongoing situation in the border areas. The PAC demanded that the drilling of oil in the DAB areas should be immediately halted or that the Government of India should ensure that the revenue is shared between the states of Assam and Nagaland. It also added that the revenue should not be given to Assam alone, but kept in a suspense account, and released only after the dispute is resolved amicably. The PAC also urged that the central neutral forces positioned in the DAB areas should be directly under the command and control of the central government and not under the Assam government.
On the issue of taxation, the PAC deliberated on the ongoing movement of civil society and NGOs against multiple taxations by various national groups.
The PAC observed that the GoI should formulate a sustenance scheme for the Naga national groups, as a ceasefire is in place and dialogue is going on. It added that despite fifteen years of ceasefire and dialogue, “there is still no sustenance scheme for the Naga national groups and the common people are being faced with the burden of multiple taxations.”
The PAC reiterated the stand of the Nagaland government to pave the way, in the event of an honorable and acceptable solution to the Naga peace process. The PAC further urged upon the GoI to expedite the peace process and “make the offer of a political agreement to the people at the earliest.”
