Our Correspondent
Meluri (Phek), April 2
Nagaland Chief Minister TR Zeliang today appealed to the public to come together and work out an early solution to the protracted Naga political problem which he said had been a stumbling block for the overall development of the State for the last many decades.
Inaugurating Meluri Town Council here today, Zeliang asserted that the need of the hour is to solve the political problem so as to ensure the people reap the fruits of good governance and all-round development.
“As of now, we have 9 factions of the Naga Political Groups, and if we do not find a solution fast, in a few years more factions may crop up which will only compound the problem,” he said and asked if the “present generation of leaders from all walks of life would like to bequeath the future Naga generations with an unsolved political problem.”
Ever since he took over the Government in May 2014, Zeliang said his Government has strived and worked out an opposition-less Government. “Earlier, when there was Opposition in the Government we could not agree on various issues and the Assembly had witnessed some members walking out of the Assembly to lodge their protests. But now, all the legislators have come together under the NPF-led DAN Government, and we are now all agreed on various issues including early solution to the Naga political problem,” the Chief Minister said.
The CM further noted his Government had also formed a Parliamentary Working Committee which has legislators from all Naga tribes. The PWC had met the Prime Minister, the Home Minister, the Interlocutor and leaders of the NPGs on various occasions, he added, while expressing happiness that the Committee has been assured that all sections of the society would be taken into confidence so as to work out an honourable solution which is acceptable to all. “We have also been assured on many occasions that all the stakeholders would be taken aboard while finalising on the Naga Framework Agreement signed on August 3, 2015 between the NSCN (IM) and the Interlocutor at New Delhi in the presence of the Prime Minister,” he said. As recent as March 9 last, the Committee met leaders of six NPGs at Chumukedima in a Consultative Meet, and different views and opinions were recorded, he recounted.
He made a fervent appeal to the public to also come forward and air their views and opinions, participate in the peace process “so that our common political destiny can be decided which is acceptable to all of us.”
“We should not be silent spectators at this juncture, nor should we create hurdles to those parties working out a solution – we should actively participate and support any move that will bring permanent peace in our land,” the Chief Minister said.
