Elections not advisable at this hour
DIMAPUR, JANUARY 4 (MExN): The Nagaland Gaon Bura Federation (NGBF) said that it is keenly awaiting the proposed visit of the Home Minister, Amit Shah followed by the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi in January.
A press release from its Media Cell said that the NGBF, “in expression of the people's will,” has urged the PM and HM to take a call on the Naga issue, while advising against the conduct of Assembly elections. It added that the appeal is based on the pulse of the people at the grassroots as felt by the NGBF, since the “conclusion of talks with all entities” on October 31, 2019, as claimed by former GoI Interlocutor RN Ravi.
“NGBF is convinced that although elections are a necessity in a democratic World, it is not advisable at this hour in Nagaland. Let elections be postponed in favour of President's Rule to ensure honorable and acceptable solution is achieved,” it said. It added that the NGBF would be duty bound to side with “our people” if the people so decide to refrain from participating in elections.
Reminding of the meeting with the PM in Delhi in 2017 wherein the NGBF urged the PM “to pursue an inclusive path and expedite the solution to the Indo-Naga political problem,” it said, “NGBF is aware that the Government of India and NSCN (IM) declared successful conclusion of political talks on 3rd August 2015.” However, it said that the folly was ignoring major stakeholders in the political talks.
Consequently, it claimed that the GoI invited the Working Committee of the Naga National Political Groups (WC, NNPG) to the negotiating table on September 27, 2017 leading to the conclusion of negotiations with all entities on October 31, 2019.
While it acknowledged the “intricacies of the Indian system” and the position of the GoI on “symbolic matters,” it maintained that the stand of the people of Nagaland is the Prime Minister announcing “the settlement basing on what was negotiated and agreed upon, once and for all” without further delay.
While stating that the Naga people in Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh have openly expressed their desire for an acceptable political settlement, it added that threats and intimidations by “anti-solution elements” cannot subdue the wish for an honorable solution.
On the ENPO demand for a Frontier Nagaland state, the NGBF maintained that the delay by GoI in announcing the Naga settlement is co-related to political and administrative discrepancies in the region over the years. “Resolving the Naga political issue and post solution realignments of flawed political and administrative status will fulfill the aspiration of Eastern Nagaland Tribes,” it said.
“NGBF understands that openly expressing decision to boycott and abstain from democratic exercise in any part of India or in Nagaland either by ENPO of Central Nagaland Tribes Council (CNTC) will seriously dent the image of the largest democratic nation in the world and its political leadership.” However, it said that since the matter is about a decades-long political struggle, the people have the legitimate political and historical right to express themselves, in the knowledge that negotiations have already concluded.
