DIMAPUR, OCTOBER 27 (MExN): The Working Committee (WC) NNPGs today stated that the position and status of elected representatives of Nagaland on the Indo-Naga political process “cannot remain lukewarm.”
“It is time for the elected leaders who have taken oath of office and secrecy under the Constitution of India to come forward and clearly express their stand,” a press release from the WC NNPGs media cell stated.
It further said that the elected representatives cannot “choose to hide behind the boulders blocking the way.”
“Naga tribes have spelled out their position. If Nagaland political parties fail in their constitutional duties and obligations, they should resign and allow ECI to derecognize the parties. It is time for political parties in Nagaland to clear their positions in the interest of the Naga people,” it added.
The WC said that the Naga people must be “reassured by the commitment of the elected legislators in the event of a Naga solution.”
Meanwhile, the committee reminded that for the past few years, the entire Naga Society of Nagaland had been demanding early solution from the Government of India. It pointed out that the Nagaland political parties had also met the Union Government asking for an early solution.
It cited how tribal bodies met the interlocutor and assured their support for an early solution and “accordingly GoI decided to conclude the ongoing negotiations within three months time with the deadline of October 31.”
“Any unresolved matters should be decided through political and democratic process after the agreement comes into force. This position was widely accepted and endorsed at the meeting of October 18 between the Interlocutor and Tribal bodies along with all stake holders,” the WC claimed.
The committee further questioned as to why the issue of Flag, Constitution and integration was not addressed during the initial years of the negotiations.
Claiming that these issues were raised “in the twentieth year of negotiations,” the WC claimed that three months “was enough to work any crisis.”
“It can only be seen as a deliberate ploy to keep the Indo-Naga political matters in a limbo,” it further alleged.
