Our Correspondent
Kohima | February 25
Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio today stated that at the top of the PDA Government’s ag enda is the resolution of the Naga political issue.
“My Government has made it clear that we will undertake every possible measure to positively contribute towards facilitating the ongoing political dialogue so that we realize a solution that is honorable and acceptable to the people,” Rio said in his budget speech.
He said the Political Affairs Committee (PAC) of the government carried out a consultative meeting with civil society organizations, tribal hohos, and NGOs on 11th May, 2018 and one of the resolutions adopted was to reconstitute the Joint Legislators’ Forum (JLF) on the Naga political issue in this new House.
Accordingly under the chairmanship of the NLA Speaker, he said the JLF was reconstituted with all 60 Members of the House, along with a smaller Working Committee.
He said the JLF cuts across party affiliations and political ideologies as all of the elected members come unitedly under one banner to resolve the decades old issue in the greater interest of our people.
He placed on record his appreciation to all members under the Chairmanship of the Speaker and the Opposition Leader “for once again rising to the occasion and making the JLF an effective mechanism to facilitate the peace process.”
“We are all aware that the unresolved political issue has been one of the major factors behind the challenges that our people have faced in the past decades,” he said adding that generations of the youth have been faced with hurdles in their quest to achieve their aspirations and our people have been denied opportunities at par with their counterparts in the rest of the country and the world.
“We have a capable, vibrant and energetic population of youngsters who have the capacity to reach international standards, set new benchmarks and do our country proud but they have been restricted due to the challenges created by the political turmoil and social unrest,” Rio said adding that the Naga people are crying out for lasting peace through a political solution and all sections of the people have sufficiently voiced their desire through democratic means.
While appreciating the positive steps undertaken by the negotiating parties, we again appeal to them to expedite the peace process and bring about an early political resolution that will pave the way for lasting peace and all round development, Rio said.
He said there have been some significant milestones that have created an air of positivity, he said adding that the signing of the Framework Agreement in 2015, the inclusive approach of the Government of India and the participation of the NNPGs in the negotiations are all welcome developments.
Parliamentary standing committee on Home Affairs
Significantly, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs in its 213th Report on the subject ”Security Situation in the North Eastern States of India” which was presented to the Rajya Sabha on 19th July, 2018 and laid on the table of the Lok Sabha on 19th July, 2018 recommends for finalisation of the Naga Peace Accord. The Committee comprising of 31 Members of Parliament cutting across all political parties and chaired by the former Home Minister P. Chidambaram, in its recommendations on the Nagaland report states that, and I quote, “The Committee is of the view that this improvement in the security situation in Nagaland may be attributed to the signing of the Framework Agreement between NSCN-IM and the Government of India. The Committee also believes that the signing of the final Naga Peace Accord can bring long lasting peace to the State that was once the hotspot of insurgency for the North Eastern Region. The Committee, strongly recommends that the Government should continue its efforts to engage the Naga groups and finalise the Naga Peace Accord.”
The Report further stated that while there have been positive outcomes, the Committee apprehends that the Naga groups and the tribal bodies are becoming restless due to the delay in concluding the talks. It further states that the Committee apprehends that any further delay may harm the progress achieved during the last few years and, therefore, strongly recommends that the Government should conclude the peace talks at the earliest, based on a broad understanding over the most contentious issues. The Committee also recommended that the Government should tread carefully on the issues sensitive to the Nagas and not allow vested interests to hijack the peace narrative, Rio said.
These recommendations are strongly in favour of a resolution and sends out the positive message that the peace process has been well understood, and that the Naga movement has been appreciated in the national political scenario across party lines and affiliations, Rio said.
While welcoming these recommendations, he said “we must also realize that our role of facilitating the peace process and strengthening it is best exemplified through unity, understanding and oneness.”
Rio called upon all sections of the people to come out in unison and create a congenial atmosphere that will strengthen and help our common cause so that the Naga aspiration for honourable peace is realised sooner than later, “so that we collectively march towards a better future of rapid economic growth and all round progress.”
