DIMAPUR, DECEMBER 20 (MExN): Former Chief Minister of Nagaland Dr SC Jamir, who has also served as Governor of Goa and Maharashtra, has pointed out as to why the Naga political solution has remained as elusive as ever. “The Nagas themselves have created innumerable road blocks for an honourable solution of the problem”, Jamir has stated in a opinion piece titled ‘Myth and reality of the Naga political solution’, which was made available to the media.
Stating that Nagas have to blame themselves for the present political mess from which they are unable to escape, Jamir has pointed to the “mushroom growth of Naga factions fighting only among themselves” and that this “naked struggle for power superseded the struggle for an honourable political solution”.
In this regard, Jamir stated that “factionalism leading to a fracture of Naga society is the main obstacle for the government of India in finding a final solution of the Naga political problem”. Jamir also had a suggestion for Delhi that is “if we are attempting an honorable and final solution of the Naga problem, the Government of India should keep the door open for all the underground groups to participate.
“NNC, NSCN (IM), GPRN/NSCN (K) and all other smaller groups should necessarily be involved in the political process. Otherwise any solution will be short lived”, Jamir stated.
Jamir also pointed out that the Naga Plebiscite of 1951 which was conducted by the NNC under the leadership of Late AZ Phizo “is the only mandate articulated solemnly by the Nagas” and as such “no other authority or individuals except the Nagas as a whole can claim legitimacy over it”.
Meanwhile, Jamir stated that the Government of India and also the Naga underground had “openly and officially declared” that sovereignty and integration are no longer on the political agenda. Jamir pointed out that “if this is the present status of the political negotiation, the underground organizations are expected to tell the people without any inhibition the real status of the on-going political process”.
Similarly, the Government of India should tell the Naga public, the real status and complexion of the ongoing political dialogue, Jamir states while adding that it should also make the “parameters and constitutional boundaries clear to the underground, so that there is no confusion”.
“In the absence of demands for sovereignty and integration, the type of political framework to meet the demand of the Nagas should be made known to them. The discussion behind the closed doors has to end and there should be openness on all sides, so that the people are made aware of the ground realities”, Jamir has advised to Delhi.
The senior Congress leader has also cautioned that the Naga people have waited long enough and any further delay in resolving the problem may lead to “serious and unforeseen complications”. Jamir went to the extent of pointing out that “this uncertainty and drift may give rise to new factions emerging under young and educated leadership with the help of anti-Indian elements”.
