As the two opposing political parties, the Congress and the NPF have nothing in common as far as the political ideologies and principles are concerned. However, on Naga political issue, it appears that despite having formed the Joint Legislators’ Forum (JLF), the NPF has either a hidden agenda or it is trying to impose its perspective on the Congress. Else, there was no reason as to why both the Chief Minister and the Home Minister should talk about NPF and Congress of having different perspective and agenda on Naga political issue. Wasn’t the objective of forming the JLF on Naga political issue to remove such differences and find a common ground?
Let the Home Minister Shri. Imkong L. Imchen clarify as to whether he is a Cabinet Minister under the terms of 16-point agreement or outside of it. As an elected member, by stating that he was happy with the statehood yet, not satisfied with the present constitutional arrangement, he had openly rejected the Statehood. The Home Minister had violated his oath of secrecy taken under the Constitution of India and hence lost the moral right to continue not only as the Cabinet Minister but also as the Member of Legislative Assembly. Should the Chief Minister fail to remove him, the NPCC demands that His Excellency, the Governor takes cognizance of his outspoken anti-constitutional ideology and advise the Chief Minister for his removal.
The Home Minister should know that all the sixty elected members, irrespective of whether they belong to NPF, Congress or other political parties had pledged under oath of secrecy to bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of India. All the Nagas, including those underground group(s) who had involved themselves in the State elections overtly or covertly have become part and partial of the Nagaland State politics under the constitution of India.
The question of the Home Minister as to whether the Congress is satisfied with the 16-point agreement and whether it was a final solution for the Congress, was a death trap question not for the NPCC but for the Nagas in general. It is left to the wisdom of the Nagas as to whether we should pursue our aspiration intelligently or allow him to mess up and destroy what we hold dear to us. For the understanding of people like him, 16-point agreement was not an end in itself but it is a means to all future hopes. The following reasons support this conclusion.
(1) A close look into clauses (13) and (14) of the 16-point agreement emphatically provided to that effect.
(2) The Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) had unanimously passed 5 successive resolutions under the Chief Ministerships of Late P. Shilu Ao, Late Dr. Hokishe Sema, Late Vamuzo, Dr. S.C. Jamir and Neiphiu Rio to implement these clauses.
(3) The recognition of Naga problem as a political problem by the then PM Late Shri. P.V. Narasimharao.
(4) The ceasefire agreement between the GoI and the Naga political groups and the ongoing dialogue.
The NPCC reiterates that it is no longer relevant to draw a parallel between the 16-point agreement and the Bedrock of Naga Society. It was categorically stated by the Congress in presence of all Nagas at Kohima local ground on August 31, 2005 that Bedrock of Naga Society was a closed chapter. The NPF had not raised any objection or demanded explanation from the Congress on that day. The Naga people including the NPF had accepted the Congress’ public declaration. This amply proved that the chapter was closed. It is no longer an issue to the NPCC.
The NPF has been questioning the NPCC of its achievements in Naga political issue. The Congress in all humility announces to the Naga public that it has the following achievements to its credit and record.
(1) Naga Peoples’ Convention (NPC), the front-runner of Nagaland Nationalist Organization (NNO) and the Congress brought about Statehood in 1960 by signing the 16-point agreement with the GoI.
(2). Ceasefire agreement between the GoI and Federal Government of Nagaland (FGN) was signed during the NNO (the front runner of Congress) Govt. in Nagaland and Congress Govt. in Delhi in September 1964.
(3). It was the prayer of NPCC to former Prime Minister of India, Late Rajiv Gandhi to offer “Talk without pre-condition” to the Naga political groups. On 19th May 1991 two days before he was assassinated in Sriperumpudur in Tamil Nadu, he committed to the Nagas at Dimapur local ground to talk without pre-condition if voted to power. After his death when the Congress was voted to power, the Congress in 1991 under the leadership of Dr. S. C. Jamir as the Chief Minister persuaded the then Prime Minister Late P.V. Narasimharao to offer talk without pre-condition. On 22nd February 1996, he landed in Naga soil at Dimapur and offered “talk without pre-condition”. He recognized the Naga problem as political problem that needed political solution. It opened a new dimension in Naga political issue and brought it to the right perspective.
(4) It was under Congress Govt. in Nagaland under the Chief Ministership of Dr. S.C. Jamir that on 25th July 1997, ceasefire was announced which became effective from 1st August 1997.
(5) Talk without pre-condition with NSCN (IM) was brought to the Ministerial level in UPA-I which was led by Shri. Oscar Fernandez, the then Union Minister.
What is the achievement of the Regional party under the names and style of Democratic Party (DP), United Democratic Front (UDF), Naga National Democratic Party (NNDP), Nagaland People’s Council (NPC) and Naga Peoples’ Front (NPF)? The only contribution of the regional party was the Shillong Accord signed on 11th November 1975. The UDF (the front-runner of NPF) in 1977 State general election in its manifesto had proudly claimed Shillong Accord as its achievement. The Regional party was even afraid to disown the terms of Shillong Accord. Shillong Accord sharply divided the Nagas and became the mother of all fratricidal killings.
The big difference between the NPF and Congress is that, while the NPF is stuck to the past, the Congress had risen to the call of circumstances in situation and gave new impetus to the Naga political issue at different stages of our struggle for freedom.
The NPF is responsible for making Nagaland and Nagas enemy of all neighboring States. Our relationship with our neighbors could not have been worse than the present one. The NPF’s policy for integration has been too provocative to our neighbors that are doing more harm than good to Nagas living in neighboring States. The NPF’s provocative approach has closed all diplomatic channels with our neighbors. What steps had NPF taken to win over the confidence of our neighboring States? Nothing, except fomenting more and more troubles so much so that NPF is now branded as the trouble maker in the whole of Northeast.
NPF is anti-Nagaland. It was under the leadership of Imkong L. Imchen as Minister of Education that affiliation was granted under NBSE to the private schools in the four hill districts of Manipur in 2006 against the wishes and interest of the Nagas of Nagaland. The NPF-led DAN Govt. exploited the backward tribes in employment, contract and supplies, other development activities so much so that it finally forced the ENPO to demand for a separate State. The Chief Minister was responsible for mishandling the issue in its nascent stage.
The Congress party’s consistent stand has been that, it will welcome any solution greater and better than the present arrangement, the Statehood. The Congress party stands for unity of the Nagas. It will remain steadfast in its commitment to find an honorable and lasting political solution acceptable to all the Naga political groups and the Nagas in general.
Media Cell, NPCC
Let the Home Minister Shri. Imkong L. Imchen clarify as to whether he is a Cabinet Minister under the terms of 16-point agreement or outside of it. As an elected member, by stating that he was happy with the statehood yet, not satisfied with the present constitutional arrangement, he had openly rejected the Statehood. The Home Minister had violated his oath of secrecy taken under the Constitution of India and hence lost the moral right to continue not only as the Cabinet Minister but also as the Member of Legislative Assembly. Should the Chief Minister fail to remove him, the NPCC demands that His Excellency, the Governor takes cognizance of his outspoken anti-constitutional ideology and advise the Chief Minister for his removal.
The Home Minister should know that all the sixty elected members, irrespective of whether they belong to NPF, Congress or other political parties had pledged under oath of secrecy to bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of India. All the Nagas, including those underground group(s) who had involved themselves in the State elections overtly or covertly have become part and partial of the Nagaland State politics under the constitution of India.
The question of the Home Minister as to whether the Congress is satisfied with the 16-point agreement and whether it was a final solution for the Congress, was a death trap question not for the NPCC but for the Nagas in general. It is left to the wisdom of the Nagas as to whether we should pursue our aspiration intelligently or allow him to mess up and destroy what we hold dear to us. For the understanding of people like him, 16-point agreement was not an end in itself but it is a means to all future hopes. The following reasons support this conclusion.
(1) A close look into clauses (13) and (14) of the 16-point agreement emphatically provided to that effect.
(2) The Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) had unanimously passed 5 successive resolutions under the Chief Ministerships of Late P. Shilu Ao, Late Dr. Hokishe Sema, Late Vamuzo, Dr. S.C. Jamir and Neiphiu Rio to implement these clauses.
(3) The recognition of Naga problem as a political problem by the then PM Late Shri. P.V. Narasimharao.
(4) The ceasefire agreement between the GoI and the Naga political groups and the ongoing dialogue.
The NPCC reiterates that it is no longer relevant to draw a parallel between the 16-point agreement and the Bedrock of Naga Society. It was categorically stated by the Congress in presence of all Nagas at Kohima local ground on August 31, 2005 that Bedrock of Naga Society was a closed chapter. The NPF had not raised any objection or demanded explanation from the Congress on that day. The Naga people including the NPF had accepted the Congress’ public declaration. This amply proved that the chapter was closed. It is no longer an issue to the NPCC.
The NPF has been questioning the NPCC of its achievements in Naga political issue. The Congress in all humility announces to the Naga public that it has the following achievements to its credit and record.
(1) Naga Peoples’ Convention (NPC), the front-runner of Nagaland Nationalist Organization (NNO) and the Congress brought about Statehood in 1960 by signing the 16-point agreement with the GoI.
(2). Ceasefire agreement between the GoI and Federal Government of Nagaland (FGN) was signed during the NNO (the front runner of Congress) Govt. in Nagaland and Congress Govt. in Delhi in September 1964.
(3). It was the prayer of NPCC to former Prime Minister of India, Late Rajiv Gandhi to offer “Talk without pre-condition” to the Naga political groups. On 19th May 1991 two days before he was assassinated in Sriperumpudur in Tamil Nadu, he committed to the Nagas at Dimapur local ground to talk without pre-condition if voted to power. After his death when the Congress was voted to power, the Congress in 1991 under the leadership of Dr. S. C. Jamir as the Chief Minister persuaded the then Prime Minister Late P.V. Narasimharao to offer talk without pre-condition. On 22nd February 1996, he landed in Naga soil at Dimapur and offered “talk without pre-condition”. He recognized the Naga problem as political problem that needed political solution. It opened a new dimension in Naga political issue and brought it to the right perspective.
(4) It was under Congress Govt. in Nagaland under the Chief Ministership of Dr. S.C. Jamir that on 25th July 1997, ceasefire was announced which became effective from 1st August 1997.
(5) Talk without pre-condition with NSCN (IM) was brought to the Ministerial level in UPA-I which was led by Shri. Oscar Fernandez, the then Union Minister.
What is the achievement of the Regional party under the names and style of Democratic Party (DP), United Democratic Front (UDF), Naga National Democratic Party (NNDP), Nagaland People’s Council (NPC) and Naga Peoples’ Front (NPF)? The only contribution of the regional party was the Shillong Accord signed on 11th November 1975. The UDF (the front-runner of NPF) in 1977 State general election in its manifesto had proudly claimed Shillong Accord as its achievement. The Regional party was even afraid to disown the terms of Shillong Accord. Shillong Accord sharply divided the Nagas and became the mother of all fratricidal killings.
The big difference between the NPF and Congress is that, while the NPF is stuck to the past, the Congress had risen to the call of circumstances in situation and gave new impetus to the Naga political issue at different stages of our struggle for freedom.
The NPF is responsible for making Nagaland and Nagas enemy of all neighboring States. Our relationship with our neighbors could not have been worse than the present one. The NPF’s policy for integration has been too provocative to our neighbors that are doing more harm than good to Nagas living in neighboring States. The NPF’s provocative approach has closed all diplomatic channels with our neighbors. What steps had NPF taken to win over the confidence of our neighboring States? Nothing, except fomenting more and more troubles so much so that NPF is now branded as the trouble maker in the whole of Northeast.
NPF is anti-Nagaland. It was under the leadership of Imkong L. Imchen as Minister of Education that affiliation was granted under NBSE to the private schools in the four hill districts of Manipur in 2006 against the wishes and interest of the Nagas of Nagaland. The NPF-led DAN Govt. exploited the backward tribes in employment, contract and supplies, other development activities so much so that it finally forced the ENPO to demand for a separate State. The Chief Minister was responsible for mishandling the issue in its nascent stage.
The Congress party’s consistent stand has been that, it will welcome any solution greater and better than the present arrangement, the Statehood. The Congress party stands for unity of the Nagas. It will remain steadfast in its commitment to find an honorable and lasting political solution acceptable to all the Naga political groups and the Nagas in general.
Media Cell, NPCC
