Guwahati/Nagaon, Feb. 24: Assam today turned down the Nagaland government?s offer to settle the inter-state border dispute between the two neighbouring states out of court.
Dispur admitted that the situation in the D-sector in Golaghat district was tense, but chief minister Tarun Gogoi said: ?There is no question of an out-of-court settlement when the land rightfully belongs to Assam. Let the Supreme Court decide.?
Gogoi was reacting to his Nagaland counterpart Neiphiu Rio?s appeal for an out-of-court settlement of the border dispute. Rio had said that a dialogue was the best way to resolve the thorny issues in an amicable manner.
The Assam government had filed a suit in the apex court in 1988 accusing Nagaland of encroaching on its land and followed it up with an interlocutory application a few years later. Gogoi said he would move the Centre to ask Nagaland to maintain status quo in the disputed area.
The chief minister criticised the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) for hobnobbing with Rio. ?He (Rio) is demanding Assam?s land and is also backing the NSCN (I-M)?s demand for Greater Nagaland. Instead of criticising Rio, the AGP leaders are joining hands with him.?
Gogoi was referring to a breakfast meeting hosted by Rio for AGP president Brindaban Goswami last week for discussing the party?s joining the North East People?s Forum.
Gogoi said minister of state for home Rockybul Hussain toured the disputed area in Merapani after a flare-up in almost two decades.