Kohima, April 10 (MExN): Former minister and sitting MLA, Imkong L. Imchen today maintained that the people of Nagaland have given a “fractured mandate” and formed a “fragile” coalition government in the State.
Stating that the scenario in the State politics today (13th House) stands divided, the NPF MLA in a press statement claimed that the “motivation” of the BJP government at the centre was to install a BJP-led government in the State so as to relegate the Naga issue to the back burner.
“The political talks which was going on progressively has been stalled as desired by the BJP party at the centre…it is evident that the Naga political issue has become the victim. As of today all political parties and NGOs have remained a mute spectator giving their focus only on the new fragile coalition Govt. in Kohima,” Imchen stated.
The MLA also recalled that he was the first in the 12th Nagaland Legislative Assembly who stated that the election to the 13th NLA be deferred in view of the ongoing political dialogue between the NSCN (IM), the six NNPGs, and the Government of India, so as to arrive at an amicable settlement to the Naga political issue.
“As for me election to the Nagaland Legislative Assembly is always secondary to the Naga issue,” he asserted. Stating that he has since 1955 witnessed physically the Naga uprising and the “brute force” exerted upon by the Government of India on the Nagas, Imchen said, “…to find an early amicable settlement of the Naga political issue is the biggest concern, as such Election to the Nagaland Legislative Assembly, according to me is only a routine matter.”
Meanwhile, he acknowledged that the Government of India’s interlocutor RN Ravi has “put in his utmost efforts to iron out the various divergent opinions of the Naga negotiating groups;” yet, “he is also only an instrument in the hands of the Govt. of India and therefore has its own limits.”
With regard to the Framework Agreement, he added, “There is no doubt that there are important and critical issues apparently to be hammered out only by the Govt. of India which regretfully stands relegated.”
Meanwhile, the MLA said he had advocated for the State election to be deferred in view of the Naga political dialogue and its settlement. “Many people thought that we were only talking in order to gain political mileage during the Assembly election, which is totally wrong and shall always stand wrong,” the statement asserted.
The posterity of the Nagas, it said, will appreciate the stand taken by the Members of the 12th Nagaland Legislative Assembly and also by the various NGOs and individuals concerned.
“I am of the firm opinion that the Naga people should come out once again in order to expedite the political negotiation and bring about the early settlement so as to meet the aspiration of the Naga people and especially the upcoming generation,” Imchen added.
