DIMAPUR, JULY 3 (MExN): The Nagaland Public Rights Awareness and Action Forum (NPRAAF) has written to the Nagaland Governor asking the latter to “disengage in power struggle” with the Nagaland State Government and “shift your priority task of solving Indo-Naga imbroglio.”
“The people of Nagaland will eternally remain gratified for your unprecedented effort of bringing ultimate solution to the Indo Naga political issue,” a representation from the NPRAAF stated.
The representation was submitted in view of the “controversy and trust deficit that has built up as a result of the Raj Bhavan letter to Chief Minister's Office, so that, healthy relationship may develop between the office of constitutional head and the head of Government.”
The NPRAAF acknowledged that “your contribution on Indo-Naga peace talk is phenomenal, it was only you who made possible the historic signing of Framework agreement in August 2015.”
“The wisdom you applied to make the breakthrough on 6 decade old issue and after 2 decades of Indo-Naga peace talks was considered extraordinary achievement,” it said.
The forum however said that the Governor's letter to the Chief Minister has “diminished the Naga's optimism of final solution which has been hanging in the fire for the last 8 months since the deadline to take it or leave it made to the negotiating party expired on 31 Oct 2019 over the issue of, Pan-Naga identity, a separate flag and a constitution.”
It made particular reference to the Governor's reference in the letter that he “can no longer abstain from my constitutional obligations for law and order in the state under Article 371A (1)(b).”
This, it said, “has only put fear in the heart and mind of the masses that, Nagaland is heading for presidential rule rather than final settlement of Indo-Naga issue as article 371A(1)(b) confers special responsibility on Nagaland Governor with respect to law and order.”
The NPRAAF stated that there was “rampant fratricidal killings, in late 80s and early 90s, where fear grip in the state, people's woes were compounded by extortions and corruption, however following cease fire between Government of India and the Naga Groups peace ushered in the state.”
Acknowledging that corruption and extortion “has always been there in the state just as in many other states of India,” the NPRAAF however stated that comparatively, the police and the para military forces have brought down the scale drastically.
“Therefore, it would be wrong to usurp the power of legitimately and democratically elected Government on the pretext of collapse of law and order and corruption,” the NPRAAF said.
