Morung Express News
Dimapur | July 20
The recently constituted Core Committee on Naga Political Issue has appealed the Working Committee of the Naga National Political Groups (NNPGs) to unite so as to facilitate an early solution to the Naga political issue. Similar appeal is going to be made by the Core Committee to the NSCN (IM) during its meeting with them on July 21 in Dimapur, it was informed.
The Core Committee and the NNPGs met at Niathu Resort, Dimapur on July 20 at the initiative of the former who wanted to know the status of the negotiation with the Government of India (GoI).
Prior to the meeting, Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio told media persons that the Core Committee expected the NNPGs to highlight the progress of the negotiations with the GoI while at the same time, it also wanted to apprise them about the desire of the public for an early settlement which could be possible only when all the Naga political groups come together.
He said that the appeal for resuming talks is with regard to NSCN (IM) since the GoI has been telling them to come for talks for an early solution.
Convenor of the WC NNPG, N Kitovi Zhimomi said that there was no question of resuming the peace talks as far as NNPGs were concerned since the talks have already been completed.
Leader of Opposition, TR Zeliang said that the Political Affairs Mission of the NPF still existed but that there is now a consensus for the Core Committee to talk on behalf of the 60 legislators.
Deputy Chief Minister and Leader of BJP Legislature Party, Y Patton appealed all the Naga political groups to be united.
Speaking to The Morung Express after the meeting, Minister for Housing and Mechanical, Tongpang Ozukum described the meeting as “fruitful” and added that the Core Committee had apprised the NNPGs on the need for the Naga people to come together since that was also the desire of the GoI. “Whenever we go to Delhi, the Centre tells us to go back, unite the Naga political groups and bring them together. So the Core Committee has requested the NNPGs today to work out a united front to meet the centre with a common voice. And this is the same thing we are going to request the NSCN (IM) tomorrow,” the Minister added.
He said the erstwhile JLF and the current Core Committee had both recognized the “anxiousness and anxiety of the Naga people” for an early political solution and that the Core Committee this time was enthused with renewed zeal and giving a “strong push” towards facilitating an early solution.
Tongpang said that the Working Committee of the NNPGs asserted during the meeting that negotiations with the GoI was already over and there was nothing more to negotiate but only to await signing of the final agreement. “But they have also understood what we are trying to say,” Tongpang added.
Emerging from the meeting, Kitovi said that there were no differences with the NSCN (IM) adding, “The Naga problem is with the Government of India and when we have resolved our differences with GoI, there is no reason why there should be differences among the Nagas.”
“As and when the GoI invites for signing the document we will sit across because there will be only one agreement and one solution.”
Meanwhile, Chief Minister, Rio said that the negotiation process was going on and that they were trying to understand one another regarding the problems and obstacles so that “We can unitedly, collectively pursue for settlement.”
