Dr SC Jamir (Morung File Photo)
Dimapur, September 17 (MExN): The former Chief Minister of Nagaland SC Jamir has termed the September 12 resolution calling for appointment of a new Interlocutor to Naga Political talks as ‘ridiculous’ and bereft of ‘political reality and dangerous’
In a statement received here today, he noted that people of Nagaland had been witnessing for the last more than 20 years with utmost curiosity the outcome of the political talks between the Government of India (GOI) and the Naga Political Groups (NPGs).
However, at no point of time neither the NPGs nor the state government have thought of consulting the people of Nagaland on the political issues being discussed with the GoI, he asserted.
Accordingly, he questioned why suddenly the leadership of the state had convened the Consultative meeting by inviting all tribal bodies and civil societies without any set agendas nearly after a lapse of more than one decade after the signing of two political agreements between the GoI and NPGs.
Jamir, who also served as Governor of Goa, Maharashtra, Gujarat (additional charge), and Odisha, noted that the body of the resolution adopted at the meeting “duly signed by the Chief Minister and others,” must be examined to determine whether it aligns with the current status of the political agreements.
While highlighting the ‘stormy and perilous’ Naga political voyage, he implied that changing and new socio political imperatives emerged and , more than 20 years of protracted negotiations with the representatives of the GoI, all the stakeholders decided to hammer out an honourable political framework.
Taking all the circumstances including Naga history, tradition, culture, policies and economics as well as the Constitution of India, in a holistic manner, the Framework Agreement was drawn up and signed on August 3, 2015 between the NSCN (IM) and GoI, he said.
Likewise, similar arrangement known as ‘Agreed Position’ was also signed between the Working Committee, Naga National Political Groups(NNPGs), a conglomerate of multiple NPGs and GoI on November 17, 2027, Jamir pointed out.
“The common significant feature of these two agreements is that the question of complete sovereignty and Integration do not figure in the said agreements,” he asserted.
However, the former CM stated the two agreements changed the character of Naga polity and hence can be treated as the “watershed in the tumultuous and boisterous Naga political odyssey.”
In view of these political realities resulting in a paradigm shift in the Naga political odyssey the GOI needs to call the signatories and ink the finality of the problem, he added.
In the meantime, the elected government of Nagaland and all tribal organisations should press both the GoI and the NPGs to “implement whatever had been mutually signed without any further delay.