Dimapur, August 1(MExN): The Working Committee of the Naga National Political Groups (WC, NNPGs) on Sunday asserted that the Naga issue and its solution must be left to the Naga negotiators who are negotiating for all Nagas in different Indian states and in Myanmar.
In a statement issued by its media cell, the WC, NNPGs noted that over the years, the Government of Nagaland has named various committees and sub-committees as facilitators to ‘assist’ in bringing early political solution.
Taking note of the recent development for an opposition-less government in the State, the WC termed the move as “a betrayal of the electorate, using Naga issue as a pretext.”
“If there was any commitment, the Joint Legislature Forum (JLF) and many committees before it were enough to usher in political settlement. As political parties started to have their own committees on Indo-Naga issue, their motives became more of a party upmanship, self promotion and not for the Naga solution,” it alleged.
While stating that the WC, NNPGs met the newly formed Core Committee on Indo-Naga issue on July 20 last, it added that, “unfortunately there are elected members who are not aware of their constitutional duty to the state they belong to and the electorate they represent.”
It further alleged that, “Most Naga legislators are more concerned for the welfare of Manipur state citizens or indulge in disturbing the sovereignty of Myanmar!”
In this regard, the WC asserted that Naga issue and its solution must be left to the Naga negotiators who are negotiating for all Nagas in different Indian states and in Myanmar.
Our legislators must understand that GoI, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has officially appointed an interlocutor to negotiate with Naga Political Parties, in order to solve the Indo-Naga political issue, it added. “When the official position and status paper of GoI and WC, NNPGs are in the hands of legislators, Naga Tribal Hohos, GBs and Civil societies, it is not wise for legislators to believe and spread fake news on Naga issue,” the WC stated.
‘Fruitless exercise’
While taking note of the proposed meeting of all sixty legislators with all negotiating groups, the WC, NNPGs said that the same group of legislators have met Naga leaders formally and informally for countless times albeit using different nomenclatures for Naga solution and stated that it has become “a fruitless exercise with each sitting becoming more and more monotonous…”
It also claimed that the NSCN (IM)’s Framework Agreement with the GoI “thoroughly and deliberately omitted Naga political conflict till 1955 because it says Naga political issue is around six decades old…” while the Agreed Position (AP) on November 17, 2017 clearly states “...GoI recognises the political and historical rights of the Nagas to self determine their future in consonance with their distinct identity...”
Reminding that the GoI has officially concluded political negotiations with all negotiating groups on October 31, 2019, it advised the Naga legislators that instead of meeting again, they (the legislators) must unitedly urge the GoI to announce the date of signing the agreement, fulfilling the ruling party’s pre election slogan, ‘Election for Solution’.
“If any further meetings are needed to sort out matters, it is the prerogative of the GoI through the interlocutor to convey to WC, NNPGs,” it concluded.
