‘Everybody should concentrate and give support to the ongoing political dialogue with utmost sincerity’
Our Correspondent
Kohima | October 22
Nagaland State Minister for Health & Family Welfare and Election, Imkong L. Imchen today said that it is assumed that the Naga political issue is about to be concluded and that “perhaps this could be made possible because of the sincerity and cooperation exhibited by both the negotiating parties besides getting support from various quarters.”
Sharing his personal opinion here today by issuing a statement during a press conference, he stated that the engagement of the Naga political groups, besides the NSCN (IM) in the negotiation process is also a positive development.
“I, for one, strongly feel that it is time for all the Nagas to sink our petty differences and contribute our best understanding and wisdom so that Naga political issue could be brought about to a negotiated settlement this time round,” he said.
Imchen also termed the invitation of the six other Naga political groups in the negotiation as a good sign. “I feel that NSCN (K) should also be invited. Knowingly why they should be left out? They should not be left out. Take them into confidence and ask them to join in the discussion,” he told the press conference.
He said a united Naga people, consisting of all sections, would be good for an “ultimate resolution.”
Imchen strongly felt that the impending Nagaland state assembly election slated on February 2018 should not be held and be allowed to lapse by March 15, 2018 constitutionally, thereby necessitating the central government to promulgate President’s Rule in place of popular government, in view of the impeding political settlement.
“Such steps taken will avoid the unnecessary social-discord as well as Constitutional propriety, besides helping in the political talks in its processes,” he said.
Imchen said if election is conducted the GoI would find difficult to dismiss the government for the sake of the political settlement. “60 MLAs besides their supporters may also not be willing to vacate the seat,” he said adding that “if the GoI is really sincere to bring about a final settlement then why they should allow election now. Let them focus on talk and bring about it.”
“I feel that conducting of election if at all the negotiation is on the final stage election should not be allowed,” Imchen said.
He meanwhile pointed out that there are political parties in the state who have been giving conditional support to the ongoing political talk promising to support the political settlement, “if it is (i) honourable (ii) acceptable to all section of the people.”
Stating that the NPF party has also been giving its support in the ongoing political talk with those two conditions, he said “I strongly support the NPF party stand even though I really do not understand what is the actual definition of honorable and acceptable” and “therefore I call it ‘conditional support.’”
“Even though many of my colleagues do not like my language but I am still quite firm that as a political party we should be clear in our political approach and stand but not in such a ambiguous position like conditional support,” he said.
The Health Minister stated that all political parties should come out with clear cut definition of “hounorable and acceptable.”
“In a way the state politicians, including myself, have misled the Naga Under-Grounders for having the double-tongue, double-talk and double- standard but never straight nor honest while dealing with the Naga underground personnel/leaders. We always talk goodness of Naga undergrounders in their presence and talk differently in their absence because we dare- not speaking the truth,” the Minister stated.
He meanwhile expressed apprehension that Naga leaders who are engaged in political negotiation with Government of India may not know how a real government is functioning.
“The Naga People’s Convention negotiated 16 Point Agreement with the Government of India along with Article 371 (A) of the Constitution of India. These two dimensions- 371 (A) and 16 Point Agreement are of two-in-one,” Imchen viewed.
He added that the ironic status today of these two dimensions (entity) is both of them were unilaterally made out of context by the Government of India. “Even though Naga people talk so much about it, which is quite justified also, the Government of India has already done away with both for all practical purposes surreptitiously. Therefore, even today the Naga negotiating parties should be alert and level headed while conducting this difficult negotiation with the Government of India so that we do not regret in future,” he advised.
Further on Article 371 A, the Minister said that the much talk about this constitutional provision is only in paper now, adding that for all practical purposes, it does not exist on the part of the Government of India.
“Keeping in view all this inherent reasons, as a patriotic Naga I feel that the impending general assembly election in the state in 2018 should go lapse by 15th March 2018 and everybody should concentrate and give support to the ongoing political dialogue with utmost sincerity,” he said.
