Centre’s move to seal India-Myanmar border: Nagaland CM says, “We have to consult people”

Nagaland CM Rio said that if the need arises his government will work on a comprehensive plan for a tangible solution

Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio today said that there will be consultations with the people before the Centre’s decision to fence the porous India, Myanmar border comes into effect.

Although Nagaland Deputy Chief Minister Y. Patton has already conveyed that any resolution to fence the India-Myanmar border would be unacceptable for the Nagas, Chief Minister Rio has stressed on the fact to hold discussions with concerned stakeholders before any decision is arrived at.

The Chief Minister was responding to a query on the stand of the state government with regard to the union government descision to fence the Indo- Myanmar border. CM Neiphiu Rio also affirmed that his government will certainly work on a comprehensive formula to find a tangible solution and resolve the issues.

Briefing newspersons after attending the Republic Day celebrations said, “That need discussion and we have to consult the people. If need than we have to work out a formula on how to solve the issue of the public and also to prevent infiltration. Because Nagaland has a border with Myanmar, both side is Naga like My village is on one side and my kheti (farmland) is on the other side. So there has to be a workable formula.”

The Nagaland Chief Minister’s statement comes days after Deputy CM Y Patton on January 22 informed that the state government would hold consultations on the border fencing issue with other Northeast states which shares its borders with the neighbouring nation.

On January 8, Nagaland deputy CM Y. Patton during his meeting with Mizoram CM Lalduhoma had maintained that any resolution regarding fencing the Indo-Myanmar border would be unacceptable for the Nagas.

On January 20, in a clear message Union Home Minister Amit Shah had informed about the Centre’s decision to seal the porous India-Myanmar border soon. Not only this, the Union Home Minister also informed about the Centre’s decision to do away with the Free Movement Regime (FMR).

Worth mentioning, Nagaland is the second state after Mizoram to oppose the border fencing with Myanmar and the Centre’s decision to end FMR.

Earlier, Mizoram CM Lalduhoma on January 4, had reportedly told Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi that the move to fence the border and end the FMR was unacceptable to the Mizos.

Read also: Border Fencing: Nagaland govt to hold talks with other NE states sharing borders with Myanmar

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