Gaurav Gogoi Criticizes Assam Government Over Border Security Issues
Concerns Raised at Assam-Nagaland Border
Gaurav Gogoi visits the Assam-Nagaland border at Moriani on Tuesday to assess alleged encroachment and interact with border residents.
Jorhat, June 30: Gaurav Gogoi, the president of the Assam Congress, has accused the government led by Himanta Biswa Sarma of neglecting the territorial integrity of Assam and the rights of its residents living near the Assam-Nagaland border. He claims that ongoing encroachments and administrative interventions have left these communities feeling vulnerable.
During his visit to Mariani and Nagajan village, Gogoi, accompanied by senior Congress officials and members of the Jorhat District Congress Committee, learned from locals that work under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) had been halted due to objections from the Nagaland administration.
While engaging with the residents, Gogoi heard their worries regarding land encroachment, limitations on development projects, and persistent disputes along the interstate boundary.
He also met with officials from Nagaland to address concerns about alleged encroachments and infrastructure projects being developed on land claimed by Assam.
In a press conference, Gogoi stated that the situation along the Assam-Nagaland border has worsened over the last decade, particularly in areas like Mariani, Uriamghat, and Merapani, where locals report that agricultural lands traditionally farmed by Assamese have been encroached upon.
"Residents on the Assam side have expressed that Naga groups are increasingly encroaching into areas where Assamese farmers have cultivated for generations. The situation in Mariani has become dire over the past 10 to 11 years. This is Assam's constitutional boundary, and it is the government's duty to safeguard it," Gogoi remarked.
He raised concerns regarding the ongoing Assam-Nagaland boundary dispute currently before the Supreme Court, questioning how permanent constructions could be allowed in disputed territories.
"With the border issue pending in the Supreme Court, how can permanent constructions be permitted in areas claimed by Assam? What actions has the Assam government taken during these developments?" he questioned.
Gogoi further alleged that MGNREGA projects in villages on the Assam side had been halted due to objections from Nagaland, criticizing the state government for failing to defend the rights of its citizens.
"If workers with valid job cards in Assam cannot work due to Nagaland's objections, what measures has the Assam government implemented? Why has it allowed such interference without advocating for its people?" he asked.
He noted that ongoing border disputes have created an atmosphere of uncertainty and insecurity for families, especially women.
"It is regrettable that residents within Assam's territory feel unsafe. Those living along the border deserve the same protection and attention as any other citizen in the state," he stated.
Targeting Chief Minister Sarma directly, Gogoi accused him of taking a weak approach to the border issue despite leading a "double-engine" government.
"The Chief Minister presents himself as a strong leader capable of achieving results in Delhi. However, when it comes to safeguarding Assam's land and its border residents, he seems to have capitulated. With a double-engine government, people anticipated faster resolutions, yet the issues have only escalated," he claimed.
Gogoi also mentioned that notifications from the Union government have heightened fears among border residents that parts of Assam's territory might eventually be transferred to Nagaland.