Dimapur, June 9 (MExN): The Nagaland Gaon Bura Federation (NGBF) on Tuesday submitted a representation to the Governor of Nagaland stating that the proposed delimitation exercise “would pose a serious question on the sincerity and commitment of the Government of India,” in concluding the Indo-Naga political talks.
“We are aware that due to the COVID-19 pandemic impact, the Indo-Naga negotiations, which was on the verge of being concluded, was delayed,” the NGBF said in a statement issued on June 9.
However, it viewed that the “Government of India and Naga Political Groups must restart the political talks and find a logical conclusion at the earliest,” considering that the centre is slowly lifting COVID-19 lockdown restrictions.
Addressing Governor RN Ravi who is also the Centre’s interlocutor for Naga peace talks, the NGBF observed that with the Naga people eagerly await the conclusion of Indo-Naga political talks, the proposed delimitation exercise, if it takes place in Nagaland, “would pose a serious question on the sincerity and commitment of the GOI and your good office in particular.” Our people will naturally feel betrayed because the hope for an enduring peaceful co-existence, as agreed upon in the Framework Agreement on August 3, 2015 with NSCN (IM) and in the Preamble or Agreed Position signed between GOI and NNPGs on November 17, 2017, raised the bar of expectation, it stated.
It said that continuing with the delimitation process at this juncture would “eat away at the pillars of trust, understanding and commitment between GOI and Nagas,” while adding that the delimitation or similar democratic exercise should take place in Nagaland and other Naga areas should take place post-solution.
“We, the NGBF, as custodians of Naga traditions, customs and heritage, reiterate our position that all issues broadly agreed, in principle, concerning our historical, political, social, cultural and economic matters, be finalized in the form of final draft for final Agreement,” it added.
