Dimapur, September 16 (MExN): The Nagaland Tribes Council (NTC) drew attention of the Prime Minister of India to the inordinate delay of the Naga political solution even after three years since the political process of negotiations between the NSCN (IM) and the Working Committee, Naga National Political Groups with the Government of India were declared completed on October 31, 2019.
In a representation submitted through the Governor of Nagaland on September 16, the NTC recalled its first meeting with the Prime Minister in 2017 when it impressed upon him to invite the WC, NNPGs to the negotiating table, and the subsequent proceedings.
The Ceasefire and the political negotiations between the Government of India and the Naga Political Groups (NPGs) are nothing but just a means to the end that is the ‘Solution,’ it said, while adding that the Framework Agreement signed between GoI and the NSCN (IM) on August 3, 2015 and the Agreed Position signed between GoI and the WC, NNPGs on November 17, 2017 “are to be the principle basis for the ultimate political solution.”
According to the NTC, under the Prime Minister’s personal patronage all the “impediments and contours” were overcome for the fact that the negotiation processes were exhaustively and mutually completed on October 31, 2019 giving a ray of hope to the Naga people to enjoy the true peace in lieu of pseudo peace in the land.
The NTC also referred to a report tabled by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home affairs, Government of India in both the Houses of Parliament in 2018 which strongly recommended that the Governments should conclude the peace talks, at the earliest, based on a broad understanding over the most contentious issues. “The Committee also recommends that Government should tread carefully on the issues sensitive to the Nagas and not let vested interests highjack the peace narratives (Sic),” it stated, quoting the Committee report.
The resolution of the issue is overdue and it seems the very recommendations of the Parliamentary Standing Committee are shelved, NTC President Toniho Yepthomi and General Secretary Nribemo Ngullie stated in the representation.
‘There is no ambiguity’
Further, the NTC also recalled the “public cries against 2018 Nagaland Legislative Assembly Election,” stating that the reason of the popular public demand for the Naga political solution was obvious.
“The citizens in Nagaland were tired to bear the burden of the elongated political negotiations of more than two decades, and the people were aware that election would add miseries to the existing plights,” it said.
However, the then General Secretary BJP Ram Madhav, in-charge North Eastern States “pacified the public in Nagaland that ‘Election (is) for Solution,” and the public believed that the ruling party would fulfil its promise that solution would be expedited post-election. “Yet five years since 2018 have gone and the people in Nagaland have been left in the lurch. The people in Nagaland are perplexed as to whether the prominent personalities representing National parties have been taking the gullible public for a ride,” it added.
It also reminded the Prime Minister of his maiden visit to the state of Nagaland on December 1, 2015, during which he impressed upon the general public that the Naga political issue would be resolved “within eighteen months” time.
“Since then we are in 7th year and the desired solution continues to remain ever elusive,” it underscored.
In the meantime, it said that the “recent and the much hyped publicity of the continuance NDPP-BJP alliance on the basis of 40:20 ratio followed by the reported transportation of the requisite election materials from the ECI to Nagaland has made the situation murkier.”
Considering the State election to be more important than delivering the citizens from the menace of pseudo peace under which people have been subjected to untold suppressions is nothing but rubbing salt to injuries, the NTC stated.
Similarly, the NTC pointed out that the Nagaland Legislative Assembly since 2003 has been fought with the slogan “Pave the way for Solution,” and that all 60 legislators from Nagaland had met the them Prime Minister in August 2012 stating that they were “ready to quit for lasting peace.”
Even recently, the Parliamentary Committee on Naga Political Issue (PCoNPI) formed in 2021 had adopted a 5-point resolution on July 9, 2021, pertaining to the Naga political issue, and expressed that all members of the core committee and the PCoNPI, which includes all legislators and MPs, “have come together under the same banner in line with the Election Manifestos of all Political Parties and commit to the people that the elected members are prepared to pave way as and when an inclusive, honourable and acceptable solution is arrived at.”
Subsequently, the PCoNPI has adopted its final 4-points resolution on July 16, 2022 meeting which was reportedly submitted to the concerned authorities of the GoI, it said, while adding that the successive resolutions and decisions indicate that “there is no ambiguity and thus the public opinion is now made clear to GoI that nothing but solution has to be first.”
Urging the Prime Minister to have ‘Political Will’ and give the call to the negotiating parties to enter the mutual agreement before the General Election in 2023, the NTC assured that the people are ever ready to welcome solution and ready to uphold and stand for solution “contrary to voices that might have been raised against solution by certain anti-solution elements.”
