Dimapur, January 5 (MExN): Stating that the upcoming ‘March Against AFSPA’ scheduled for January 10 was akin to “hitting the tail to kill the snake,” the NPCC on Wednesday said that implementing the political solution would ‘automatically’ render the Disturbed Area Act and AFSPA pointless.
“Resolve the political solution, automatically, Disturbed Area Act and AFSPA will become infructuous,” the Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee said in a statement, while reiterating its stance that the implementation of political solution has been delayed because of the State Government.
“There is no threat for Indian Army. All the factions have signed Ceasefire and talks have concluded. Once the talks are implemented, GoI will have no justification to extend. Therefore, the first demand is to implement solution,” it asserted.
The NPCC is against the draconian laws, it said while highlighting that the Congress under the leadership of Dr SC Jamir had clearly interpreted to the Government of India that the “unrest in Nagaland is political and needs to be settled politically. The issue is not insurgency. It is related to our identity, religion, culture, customs and social practices.”
It said that the NNC/FGN had adopted a policy of non-violence and signed Ceasefire agreements with GoI since 1964, and that the Federal Government of Nagaland was formed for self defense not for offensive war. However, with the NSCN breaking away after 1980, “the decent policy that guided the political movement underwent changes with rampant killings and recruitment.” It went on to state that the policy of BJP and alliance state government to “actively facilitate” the peace talks, “several thousands have joined the movement and Government of India has quickly given recognition even to split factions.” GoI may divide factions but cannot divide the inherent political goal, it added.
Noting that there was a time when “no one was safe,” the NPCC stated that through the decades of tumultuous situation, AFSPA was forgotten and the priority was on “How to stop factional warfare and assassinations.”
Stating that AFSPA has nothing to do with justice to the victims of the Oting massacre, the NPCC asserted that it is the duty of the state government to deliver justice. “The culprits have killed peaceful civilians. They are criminals and need to be prosecuted under CrPC…The culprits should not be allowed to escape by blaming AFSPA,” it added.
