Al Ngullie
Morung Express News
Kohima | November 19
Secretary General of the ruling NPF KG Kenye today said that the party had resolved that “even if a solution comes when we are in power we will dissolve the government to pave the way.”
When contacted by the Morung Express, Kenye also informed that a hurriedly-called meeting of the Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) Legislature Party in Kohima had ‘discussed’ the letter of the Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) which, earlier, demanded a ‘response’ from the Naga People’s Front (NPF) whether it still stood by its resolution to resign should the Nagaland political talks arrive at a solution.
The party’s top leadership and the ruling members met in the afternoon in Kohima in the Chief Minister’s Banquet Hall. Highly-placed sources in the ruling Naga People’s Front (NPF) admitted that the meeting was to discuss the NPCC’s dateline of November 20 given to the DAN camp apparently seeking a ‘response’ whether the NPF-led coalition still stood by the resolution undertaken on July 19, 2012.
On July 19, 2012 the Joint Legislature Forum comprising the ruling and opposition members of the 60-member Nagaland Legislative Assembly undertook a resolution to ‘resign’ in the event a solution was arrived at to the Naga political problem. The NPCC had issued a veiled threat days ago that was generally perceived to be the opposition Congress members leaving the legislators’ group if the NPF failed to ‘respond.’
Secretary General of the NPF KG Kenye said today that the DAN legislature met “because our friends from the Congress camp” wrote to the Chairman of the forum (and Assembly Speaker Kiyanelie Peseyie and Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio seeking ‘clarification’ on the NPF’s stand on the resolution.
“Tonight’s (meeting) was a consultation,” he said. The NPF leaders reiterated that in 2008, “we (NPF) have clearly spelled out our political stand that is still relevant to the NPF – that we will bridge the gap between the Government of India and the Naga political groups, to do all we can to bring out an early political settlement.” “The party resolved that even if a solution comes when we are in power we will dissolve the government to pave the way”, Kenye said.
The senior NPF leader then expressed appreciation to the opposition Indian National Congress for its “understanding” and “magnanimity” over the issue. “We had a very understanding and responsible opposition. They came to understand the gravity of the situation facing the people.
They (Opposition) have come to uphold it and the JLF was formed because of it the 60 members cutting across party lines came together to resolve the issue,” the NPF secretary general said.
Kenye added that he did not ‘know about the Congress camp and I can’t speak on their behalf’ but for the NPF, the regional party still stands by the resolution it undertook in 2008 to ‘pave way’ if a solution was found for the vexed Naga political issue. That remains the political stand and policy of the NPF, he reiterated.
Kenye refused to discuss further the other possible agenda of the ‘emergency’ DAN Legislature Party meeting except for the hint that the NPCC missive compelled the ‘emergency’ meeting. He said the NPF would be issuing an official statement by tomorrow, Tuesday.
None of the other NPF leadership returned calls made to them by this newspaper at the time of filing this news report as did the Congress leadership, especially the NPCC.
