Northeast India’s Only English and Hindi Satellite News Channel

LS MP Tokheho Yepthomi links delay in Naga peace talks to oil exploration in Nagaland

First Published: 5th January, 2024 15:45 IST

Yepthomi said that very soon 64% of India’s oil production will come from the Northeast states, and Nagaland will not be a part of it. He added that the ongoing

Lok Sabha MP from Nagaland Tokheho Yepthomi has said that many people in Delhi intend to delay solution to the Naga political issue as long as possible to make arrangements for extraction of oil along the Assam-Nagaland border.

In a statement, Yepthomi said that very soon 64% of India’s oil production will come from the Northeast states, of which Nagaland will not be a part. He added that the ongoing Indo-Naga talks have halted oil exploration in Nagaland.

The Nagaland MP said the oil refineries have brought revenues amounting to Rs 18,000 crore for Assam over the last 10 years.

“Whilst our neighbours make economic progress at a blistering pace, we Nagas have stifled development on the pretext of Article 371-A and the political negotiations,” he said.

“Whatever justification we give for the inability and incapacity to keep pace with development and economic growth with the rest of the country and world is because of the unresolved political issue and the use of money power in all walks of life,” he said.

Yepthomi said of the 35 oil fields along Nagaland-Assam border, seven – Champang, Hozukhe, Nikihe, Pishikhu, Tokishe, Khoponala and Toshezu – are in Nagaland.

“Citing Article 371 (A) and the Naga political negotiations, none of the aforementioned oil fields are operational,” he said.

Yepthomi also said the Nagaland government should ascertain the amount of oil deposit in Nagaland before finalising the agreement for sharing of oil royalty with Assam. He said more than 60% of Nagaland’s population is under the age of 25, meaning they are all younger than the Naga political negotiations.

“It is time for Nagas to decide for economic independence or to continue and keep negotiating for political sovereignty,” Yepthomi stressed.

Also stating that Nagaland has the highest percentage of population of unemployed youth in the country, Yepthomi said the stranglehold of businesses in the state by outsiders through the guise of ‘power of attorney’ has become so deeply entrenched that it has left people of the state at the mercy of outsiders. “We must do away with giving power of attorney to outsiders in order to enable our youth to do business in our own land. The Nagas of Nagaland are today politically and economically slaves to outsiders,” the MP added.

COMMENTS

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

WE RECOMMEND

Banner
ENPO and Eastern Naga National Workers Forum Declares Eastern Nagaland as Peace Zone

The Easter Naga People’s Organisation and the Eastern Naga National Worker’s Forum held a Consultative and Coordination meeting in Tuensang on Wednesday, during which the groups resolved and reaffirmed the 18th December 2007’s Tuensang summit resolution in declaring the entire Eastern Jurisdiction as a peace zone. The House unanimously reaffirmed that there should be no […]

14th November 2024
Banner
NSCN-IM’s Threat to Pick Up Arms Is Too Much: Former Nagaland CM Liezietsu

Liezietsu said, “Government of India is not serious towards settlement of the Naga issue and if there are hindrances as such, it should be sorted out.”

13th November 2024
Banner
New Wasp Species Discovered in Nagaland, First Record Outside Australasia

The discovery was made by researchers from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), marking a significant expansion of the species' range.

10th November 2024
Banner
Stage Set For Creation of Frontier Nagaland Territory. Read Details Of How It Will Be Funded, What Nagaland Govt Said In Its Comments To MHA

Sources said the FNT administration will be in the know of the funds position or allocation in real time through a transparent system.

10th November 2024
Banner
Naga Peace Talks Post NSCN-IM Statement: Centre Still Open for Dialogue, Say Sources

NSCN-IM has for long been insisting on the demand for a separate flag and constitution for the Nagas

09th November 2024