Our Correspondent
Kohima | August 22
State Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio today charged the Opposition Congress of attempting to sabotage the ongoing political dialogue and blamed the latter of inviting violence to the State. Citing various instances as a proof, the Chief Minister pointed out that Congress had tried to sabotage the peace process on several occasions. He said Congress’ refusal to partake in the Joint Legislator Peace Committee, which was initiated by the Assembly Speaker, is a clear case. He also brought in the infamous Congress booklet, ‘Bedrock of Naga Society’ to substantiate his point.
“We cannot allow Congress to fool the Nagas anymore. The Congress attitude is inviting violence in the State”, Rio said, while replying to a starred question in the first day of the Monsoon Session of Assembly.
Clarifying his earlier statement on the interim agreement, Rio said that if the dialogue is finding so difficult to move ahead, interim agreement should be worked out so that the situation of 1950s and 1960s doesn’t return to the state.
“If settlement cannot come immediately now interim arrangement should be made so that dialogue does not fail and people are protected from repetition of the past ordeal”, Rio stated in the Assembly today.
The Chief Minister also admitted that 9 years have passed but till date talks are inconclusive, but he said the DAN government does not want people to undergo the same suffering like in the past.
“Are we prepared to face the same situation if talks fail? Our desire is peace”, Rio asserted.
Irked by the Chief Minister remark that the Congress is trying to sabotage the political talks, and invite bloodshed to the state, Opposition Leader I Imkong demanded on floor of the house that the Chief Minister substantiate his allegation and the matter be debated in full. However, the speaker pacified the issue after he assured members that the Chief Minister statement would be re-examined.
‘Bedrock of Naga Society’ also surfaced in the discussion as Rio used the booklet to prove his allegation that the Congress is attempting to sabotage the political dialogue. “I was against the booklet, there is prove to this. That is why I quit Congress” Rio said, while trying to defend himself from the Opposition charge that he was also part of the booklet.
He also cited various initiatives taken by his government like the formation of CCP, equi-closeness policy and facilitator role of DAN government to prove their support for the ongoing peace process.
Replying to a starred question raised by Congress MLA KV Pusa if the Indo-Naga political settlement is leading towards another interim Agreement, Home Minister Thenucho said that the dialogue is going on between the Government of India and NSCN-IM and talk is inconclusive.
Thenucho also disclosed that as per the communication send by the Centre to the State in the recent past, the Government of India might review the ceasefire agreement with both the NSCN-IM and the NSCN-K.
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