ITANAGAR, March 5 – Arunachal Pradesh is not going to let go even a single inch of its land whatever demands may come from any quarter. This was asserted by the State Home Minister Tako Dabi today.

This strong reaction came in the wake of the ‘Greater Nagalim’ demand made by the NSCN(IM), which is presently engaged in peace talks with the Centre. “The State Government is not going to bow down to any pressure. It will not give an inch of its terrain,” said the Home Minister.

The territory of ‘Greater Nagalim’ claims Arunachal’s twin district of Tirap and Changlang, which have been at the receiving end due to the decades-old insurgency problem.

Addressing a well-attended press conference here today, Dabi focused on the on-going peace talks between the Centre and NSCN(IM) saying it will help find a long lasting solution to the long-standing impasse.

Through talks only insurgency problems can be solved, he felt. “Bring the ultras to the table as this is the only way to solve the issue.”

While welcoming the present round of talks between the Central Government and the NSCN(IM), the Minister made it clear that Arunachal has got no business to poke in the issues not concerning the State and said the discussions figure problems excluding Arunachal. But, if the talks raise issues concerning Arunachal, the State Government will intensely counter the moves, he added.

Recalling the firm resolution adopted by the successive State Governments in the past including that of 1999 by Mithi Government, 2006 by Apang Government, and the present one under Dorjee Khandu, Dabi affirmed the government will not ‘part with an inch of Arunachal territory’ to any force.

Once the Naga issue is solved, Dabi, said the NE will heave a sigh of relief while emphasising that the onus is on the Centre to bring ‘long-desired’ peace in the region.

On the frontier issue, he pitched for effective manning of Indo-Myanmar border.

The State Government, in this regard, has written to the Centre to convene a meeting involving the Chief Ministers, Home Ministers, Chief Secretaries and Home Commissioners of five States – Arunachal, Assam, Nagaland, Manipur and Meghalaya.

Imphal Correspondent adds: Manipur Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh is reportedly monitoring the ongoing Centre-NSCN(IM) talk in New Delhi, sources said. Ibobi, had been camping in New Delhi from February 28 last ahead of the Naga peace talks which had resumed on March 2.

The Manipur Government believe that the Central leaders will not do anything against the interest of the State, a senior Minister in the Ibobi cabinet told a group of reporters when asked about his reaction to the ongoing Naga talks in Delhi.

Source: The Assam Tribune

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