
According to the Congress Legislative Party (CLP), which met today, during a meeting between the Konyak Union and Rio at the time of the Aoleang State Road Show at Mon on April 6, 2010, the KU had “conveyed to the chief minister that the Eastern Nagaland People’s Organization (ENPO) will demand for a separate state”. According to the CLP, the Chief Minister’s reply was reportedly: “I will neither oppose nor recommend your demand”.
Political decision needed for ENPO demand, cannot be left to the bureaucrats, says CLP
Subsequently, the ENPO representing Mon, Tuensang, Longlen, and Kiphire districts inhabited by Chang, Konyak, Sangtem , Khiamniungan, Yimchungru and Phom tribes met the Union Home Minister and Home Secretary and submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister with the demand,” the Congress said.
The Congress lamented that Neiphiu Rio, as head of the state, was “highly irresponsible” in failing to take his Cabinet or the Legislators into confidence “before making a rush mid-path political stand to the Konyak Union.” The chief minister should come clearly as to whether it was his personal opinion or the stand of the DAN government, the CLP said. “The CLP will not be a party to such myopic political over-sight that may have far-reaching ramifications in the unity of the Nagas.”
The CLP also advised the Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) government that it must begin process to address the issues that elicited the demand for separate state by an organization representing the state’s eastern regions. The Congress made clear that the DAN government should have taken bold, concrete political decision and protect the integrity of the state. “The matter should not be shifted to the bureaucrats alone but should be handled politically by the Government as it is delicate and involves the aspiration of a large section of the Naga people,” the CLP said in a statement today. The Congress reminded that the demand for a separate state “is seriously affecting the unity and integrity of the Nagas” and the government should act before it is too late.
The Congress Legislature Party met in Dimapur, January 28 and discussed pressing issues confronting the Naga people and the growing disenchantment of the public ‘primarily attributed to the mis-governance, corruptions and irregularities committed by the DAN government in many fronts.’
In the backdrop of the demand, the CLP said, various political parties, starting with Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC), NGOs and individuals have been appealing to the ENPO to reconsider its demand and come forward for redress of their grievances. “Surprisingly, the government of the day (DAN government) that was expected to make its stand public could manage to come out with official statement only on 18th January, 2011,” the CLP said.
Looking in-depth into the intricacies of the issue, the Congress observed, one is made to understand that the ‘finger of suspicion and accusation was on administrative manipulation and exploitation’.
The Congress stated: “The common perception of these people is that, the presence of substantial political leadership had not made any difference since the equitable presence of bureaucracy in key positions and proportionate employees in the Govt. establishments. Therefore a political committee instead of an administrative committee is imperative to instill the confidence of these people and take bold political decision to resolve the problem.”
The elected members have the constitutional obligation to protect and preserve the integrity of the state, the CLP said. “The DAN government should have the boldness to take concrete political steps to address the issue. The NPCC had in its statement on December 30, 2010 offered and all-out contribution in drawing a road-map to resolve the problem.”