Longleng, APRIL 17 (MExN): Chief Minister, TR Zeliang has reiterated his stance on the Naga political imbroglio calling for a concerted effort to solve the problem soon rather than passing it on to future generations. The Chief Minister’s Office, Kohima in a press release stated that Zeliang in his address at the Phom People’s Council’s Silver Jubilee celebrations at Longleng on April 16 stated, “If the Naga political problem is allowed to linger on” more political groups might crop up and compound the issue.
“At present, we have five NNC groups and four NSCN groups whose goals are the same, but it is difficult to bring them together to present a single voice and opinion to the Government of India.”
According to the CMO’s press release, the sole idea behind the 60 legislators of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly coming together under one banner was to facilitate an early solution. “When erstwhile political opponents can come together for the cause of the Naga problem, why can’t the Naga political groups come together? Why can’t all sections of the Naga society come together…?”
Maintaining that the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi is genuinely determined to come to a solution, the release recalled Modi’s positive reaction to the state Parliamentary Working Committee’s visit to Delhi in July 2015. The PM was impressed that representatives of the tribes of Nagaland had come together for the cause of the Naga people and assured the PWC that a formula would be worked out taking into consideration all the views and aspiration of the Naga people to work out an early solution acceptable and honourable to all.
The state government convening a meeting of six Naga Political Groups in March was all part of the agenda to solve the Naga problem, Zeliang said, adding criticising the legislators “as blindly supporting the Framework Agreement without knowing the contents” is not fair. The sending of a delegation of the Naga Hoho and the Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organisation to meet SS Khaplang was also to convey the message that the GoI and the NSCN-K should re-enter into ceasefire.
“We are not supporting or opposing any group, but we are working for the interest of all the Nagas,” the Chief Minister said.
On the PWC meeting political leaders in Delhi, the release said that the intention is to aid the process by briefing them on the history and uniqueness of the Nagas. It further cited Congress president, Sonia Gandhi’s comment on the Framework Agreement that she would support it “if it was good for the Nagas, the Northeast and the nation.”
“For the first time in many years, civil societies such as NSF, ENSF, NMA, Naga Hoho and the ENPO have come together to work out an early solution. The Naga political problem can be solved only through the active participation of all sections of the society including Church organisations,” the CM stated.
