Dimapur, January 7 (MExN): Nagaland State civil society has put their voices together in unanimously calling for a solution and settlement to the Indo Naga political issue before conducting any further elections in the State. The civil society bodies have sent appeals and representations to the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, calling for the deferment of polls in favour of a political solution.
NTC
In a representation to the PM through Government of India’s Interlocutor to the negotiations, RN Ravi, the Nagaland Tribes Council expressed that the “ongoing negotiation should bring logical result to the protracted Naga political issue without letting any situation hamper the progress.”
“The ground reality is that the State of Nagaland has been reeling under 10 Governments for decades. Beside the legitimate State Government, there are 9 Governments of NNPGs all housed in Nagaland and sourced by one Government. Whereas, we talk about corruption and developmental backwardness in Nagaland but it is obvious that development cannot literally take place in a place which is over-administered by too many authorities without synchronization,” noted the NTC.
Thus, it cited the example of the existing 60 MLAs along with the former legislators adopting a joint resolution to press for political solution before election, as well as more than 40 NGOs including tribal hohos unanimously preferring solution to election to “eradicate chaos and confusion.”
GBFN
Along with the NTC, the Gaon Burrah Federation of Nagaland (GBFN) also sent a representation to the PM through the Interlocutor. Realizing that “a major step was taken on August 3, 2015, when you decided to place in records the outcome of nearly two decades of dialogue with the NSCN IM into black and white as a frame work agreement,” the GBFN reminded that the dialogue with the other six armed Naga National Political Groups in November 2017 “has the participation of the entire Naga Fraternity including customary bodies and intellectuals.”
The GBFN warned that “Elections bring powerful negative elements together who will challenge, disrupt or destroy social and political decorum including the present peace process.” “Under your visionary leadership, Nagas have hope in the Government of India to solve the prolonged Naga political issue.”
CNTC
The Central Nagaland Tribes Council also made an appeal to the GoI to defer the 2018 state assembly elections in order to expedite the Naga peace process so that a final solution on the protracted Naga political issue is arrived at. The CNTC had met and submitted a memorandum on the same to the President of India Ram Nath Kovind on December 1, 2017 in Kohima, “on which he assured to look into it and take up the matter,” stated CNTC. It expressed hope that the GoI will bring on board the remaining NNPGs who are yet to join the talks.
ACAUT
In a representation sent to the PM through the Governor of Nagaland, the ACAUT Nagaland meanwhile called for deferment of the 2018 polls as well as President’s Rule in the State.
“Election at this juncture with a duly elected government will consign the peace talks to the backburner for years to come,” noted the ACAUT Nagaland.
With the term of the present Assembly ending in March, the ACAUT Nagaland suggested that the Government of India recommend the imposition of President’s Rule in the State.
“It is during the period of President’s Rule that your government should be able to complete the negotiation process with the NNPGs and the NSCN-IM,” the anti corruption body reflected. Further, “during this period,” the BJP government could also “initiate much needed developmental activities in the State sorely missing in the last decade or so, thanks to corruption,” the body suggested.
With numbers in the Lok Sabha, the BJP has the ‘golden opportunity’ to “pursue your agenda of peace.”
