Morung Express News
Dimapur | July 13
PRIME MINISTER Manmohan Singh today assured a team of Naga legislators from Manipur that he was for an extension of the ceasefire between the Centre and the NSCN (I-M) and also for a solution to the vexed issue. Led by Outer Manipur MP Mani Charenamei, the delegation pressed for a solution and submitted a 7-point memorandum during their 20-minute meeting with Singh.
“I too want a solution,” the Prime Minister was quoted as saying by Morung Makunga, one among the 6 United Naga Council-backed MLAs who participated in today’s meeting. Singh reportedly thanked the visiting Naga group for their suggestions.
The memorandum submitted by the elected officials stated that “any settlement reached between the Government of India and the NSCN (I-M) short of Naga unification shall mean creating greater problem for the region, and shall not be acceptable to the Nagas.” Dubbing the Naga problem as purely a political problem and not a “constitutional crisis”, the team appealed to both the parties to hasten the peace process “boldly.”
“Nagas do not have confusion or quarrel/dispute with neighboring communities nor do they claim others’ land; Nagas simply assert that they should be allowed to live together under one (administrative) roof and shape their future with their own genius.”
Any solution m must be based on the “uniqueness of Naga history and situation,” they stated. Thus, the legislators, “as representatives of the Naga people, considering the magnitude of the situation,” urged the Prime Minister to extend the ceasefire agreement for another period with a time-bound strategy and find a solution acceptable to both parties without further delay, “but failing which problems can lead to far reaching consequences.”
Besides Charenamei, the six MLAs include Morung Makunga, Dr Khashim Ruivah, Awangbou Newmai, K Raina, Danny Shaiza and Wungnaoshang Keishing.
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