Assam CM Tarun Gogoi says he will oppose Centre-NSCN pact if it hurts Assam’s interest

GUWAHATI: Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said he would oppose the central government’s agreement with Naga militant outfit NSCN-IM if it hampers his state’s interest.

“I am yet to see the content of the accord. However, if it affects Assam, I will oppose it tooth and nail,” Gogoi told ET. “In 2001, when ceasefire with NSCN-IM was extended to Assam, I opposed it tooth and nail and later it was withdrawn.”

The Centre cannot make decisions that affect Assam without consulting the state, the CM said. But if the accord pertains to only Nagaland and does not talk about Assam’s territory, then “I have nothing to say, I will welcome it”, he added.

Northeastern states have yet to get the contents of the accord. These states have opposed the NSCN-IM’s demand of Greater Nagalim in the past. Greater Nagalim involves carving out Naga-dominated areas from Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh.