KOHIMA, November 20 (NEPS): Speaker of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA), Dr. Imtiwapang Aier lauded the Government of India and the six Naga National Political Groups (NNPGs) for entering into an agreement for finding a solution to the longstanding Naga political issue.
Talking to NEPS at his office chamber on Monday, the Speaker said they had been urging RN Ravi, Interlocutor for Naga peace talks, for a “comprehensive solution” so that there should not be any more piecemeal solution. All the stakeholders should be taken on board while pursuing a lasting and permanent solution to the Naga issue, he said.
It may be mentioned that Government of India and six NNPGs on Friday entered into an agreement at Delhi. It said Government of India had recognized the “political and historical rights of the Nagas to self-determine their future in consonance with their distinct identity.”
Dr. Aier, who is also the Convener of Nagaland Legislators’ Forum (NLF), made a fervent appeal to both the Government of India and NSCN (K) for the resumption of their ceasefire as it was the desire of Nagaland Government as well as the desire of Naga people.
When asked his comments on Dr. Shürhozelie-led NPF legislators’ staying away from the recent NLF Meeting held on November 17 at the Assembly Conference Hall on the allegation that he was not upholding the Constitution of India and the Assembly Rules as well, the Speaker dismissed both the charges. He said he called the NLF Meeting at the strength of its Convener on November 17 to discuss on the Naga political issue as it entered a crucial phase and accordingly, all the Members of the 12th Nagaland Legislative Assembly were invited to attend it.
“We should keep our Naga political issue above the State politics and individual interests,” he said. “Because NLF has been constituted on the Naga issue comprising of all Members irrespective of their political affiliations and it has got nothing to do with State politics and individual interests.”
On the allegation that he did not uphold the Rules of Assembly, the Speaker said, when the matters were in his Court, “the question of not upholding the Rules of Assembly does not arise.”
The first hearing took place on October 31 last and the next hearing would take place on November 28, he said and further explained that they should wait for the judgment of his Court. “They are free to go to any Court to seek legal redressal if they are not satisfied with the judgment of the Speaker’s Court,” he said.
Unfortunately, it was they (Dr. Shürhozelie’s team) who had not followed the Rules as when he was taking up the matters in his Court, they already approached the Court. “For me, I will go by the book,” the Speaker added.
