Dimapur, January 30 (MExN): The Bharatiya Janata Party is drawing flak over its decision to suspend the member who signed the Joint Declaration to not file nominations or issue party tickets on January 29. The CCNTHCO has now demanded that the BJP revoke the suspension and establish its commitment to the January 29 declaration. “The BJP should clarify its position with regard to January 29 Joint Declaration which has created utter chaos in the state,” stated the Core Committee of Nagaland Tribal Hohos and Civil Organisations (CCNTHCO) in a press release from its Convener, Theja Therieh, and Co-Convener, David Sangtam. The body claimed that the suspended member signed the document after authorization from the Nagaland State BJP President. The CCNTHCO accused the BJP of playing a “most insidious game plan to scuttle the cry of Solution before Election” by suspending its member who had signed the declaration “when he was authorized by none other than the State BJP president to sign on behalf of the party.” Stating that this “treacherous act will not go unchallenged,” the CCNTHCO asked whether “the State BJP is committed to finding solution to the 7 decades old Naga political issue?” The umbrella organization also accused the BJP of “playing a dirty game to grab political power at the expense of Naga aspirations.” It questioned when State BJP members “are Nagas first and whether their allegiance is to their high command than finding solution to Naga problem.” Further, the CCNTHCO demanded that the State BJP revoke the suspension order of their Senior Executive Member and “aver their commitment to their declaration made on January 29.” Unless the Nagaland State BJP accedes to this demand, the CCNTHCO, as per its January 29 Resolution, “shall take necessary steps and any aggravation of the peaceful situation in the state shall be solely borne by the State BJP.” Meanwhile, expressing appreciation for the Nagaland Legislative Assembly resolution taken on December 15, 2017, the CCNTHCO reminded Nagaland MLAs that “the time is now to resign from the NLA and the need of the hour is to move beyond mere lip service. Such an act of collective sacrifice will definitely send a strong message to the GoI that Nagas desire Solution at the earliest.” Unsure party positions Sensing the rumbling on ground, other parties—regional or national—are either taking time to decide or are going with public sentiments; some are following the election process too. The NPF, JD (U), INC and the BJP attended today’s meeting with the Chief Electoral Officer, for instance, even though the CCNTHCO had asked them not to in order to honour the Joint Declaration. However, the Janata Dal (United), that is an alliance partner in the DAN government, alongside the NPF, NCP and BJP, stated that it stands united with the opposition to elections. “Our leader, Jayaprakash Narayan, stood for dignified and respectful solution to the Naga issue. We also support justice for the long pending Naga issue and support the united opposition to the election. For now, we are for solution before election,” said KC Tyagi, JD (U) Chief General Secretary and National Spokesperson. The Indian National Congress is taking some time to reach a national position. “We have asked the Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee to come to Delhi on January 31,” informed Dr. K Jayakumar, All India Congress Committee Secretary, in-charge of Nagaland. A national position on the solution/election matter in Nagaland will be taken only after a discussion, he said. Former NPCC President, I Imkong, had signed the January 29 Joint Declaration on behalf of the INC.
