New Delhi, April 16: Adopting a tough posture on the age-old boundary dispute with Assam, Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio today sought Central intervention to restrain Tarun Gogoi Government from adopting �aggressive and provocative� postures.

Rio said this during his meeting with Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil.

He was accompanied by other senior State Cabinet Ministers, State�s official spokesman said.

He apprised Patil about the �mounting tension� along the Assam-Nagaland border areas which Rio said was due to the �aggressive posture and provocative activities of the Assam Government, through its police and administrative machineries�.

�Unless the Centre restrains Assam Govt and make them abide by the terms and conditions of the Interim Agreement of 1972, violent clashes and other undesirable situations may erupt any time in the border areas, and in such a situation, it is the Assam Govt which should be held responsible,� the Nagaland Government delegation led by Rio was quoted by the spokesman as saying.

They also demanded setting up of a �neutral or joint command� of the Central forces in the disputed belt, the spokesman added.

On the talks between the Centre and NSCN-IM, Rio suggested a review of the ceasefire ground rule and the methodology of its implementation.

Urging Patil to use his good offices to find an early and acceptable solution to Naga problem, they said �if such an opportune moment is wasted or frittered away, it may be hard to find another opportunity again�.

� PTI.

Newmai News Network adds from Dimapur: A Ministerial delegation of Nagaland led by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, which called on Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil in New Delhi today apprised Patil about people�s yearning for peace and support to the ongoing Naga peace process and said if such an opportune moment was wasted or frittered away now, it could come never.

An official release said the delegation comprising of Rio, Finance Minister K Therie, Industries Minister H Khekiho Zhimomi, Health Minister Thenucho, Works and Housing Minister Tokheho and Political Advisor to Chief Minister K Hollohon also apprised Patil of the latest law and order situation in the state; the need for review of ceasefire ground rules and the methodology of its enforcement and urged him to use his good office to help find an early and acceptable solution to the decades old Naga political issue.

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