CM Sarbananda Sonowal meets PM Modi, Union home minister Amit Shah over Naga peace agreement

GUWAHATI: Chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Thursday called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah in New Delhi separately, and urged them to take the state into account, before going ahead with any peace deal with Naga groups.


The chief minister later said both leaders have assured him that Assam's interests will be protected.

Besides Assam, people of Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh - three states surrounding Nagaland - are apprehensive about the proposed Naga peace deal, and the demands of the NSCN(I-M) for creation of a greater Nagaland by merging parts of the three states with Nagaland.

Earlier, Manipur chief minister Biren Singh had made the same request to the home minister to ensure that his state's territorial boundary is protected. On Wednesday Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Pema Khandu said his government will not part with any territory of the state for the NSCN(I-M)'s demand to create a Greater Nagaland or 'Nagalim', by merging all Naga-inhabited areas in Assam, Arunachal and Manipur.

The NSCN(I-M)'s 'Nagalim' shows the whole of Assam's Karbi Anglong and North Cachar Hills (now Dima Hasao) district, parts of Golaghat, Sivasagar, Dibrugarh , Tinsukia, and Jorhat districts and large parts of Tamenlong, Senapati, Ukhrul, and Chandel of Manipur, besides the three districts of Arunachal Pradesh - Longding, Tirap and Changlang.

The chief minister's office said, "During the meeting, Sonowal apprised the Prime Minister of the prevailing public mood in Assam in the wake of the proposed Naga peace accord. Prime Minister Modi assured Sonowal that the Centre would keep the interests and aspirations of the people of Assam before taking any decision."

Earlier, when Sonowal met Shah at his official residence, and requested him to consider the interests of the people of Assam, while going for any accord. "The home minister told Sonowal that nothing would be done, which goes against the interests of the state and its people," the CMO said.

Somowal also had elaborate talks on the revival plan on the Hindustan Paper Corporation's Paper Mills, namely Nagaon Paper Mill, at Jagiroad and Cachar Paper Mill at Panchgram, with both leaders.

"Taking into consideration the future of the employees, Sonowal requested Modi to take steps for the revival of these mills. The chief minister also sought PM Modi 's help for the on- going expansion of Numaligarh Refinery Limited, and maintaining its present status as the Union Public Sector Undertaking," the CMO said.