Kohima, August 2 (MExN): The Naga People’s Front on Sunday urged the PDA government to review its decision of profiling the government employees, stating that the self-declaration exercise will only engender more suspicions within the society rather than meeting the desired result.
It termed the decision of the PDA Government directing the State Government employees to furnish details of relatives working in the Naga National movement set-up as “either a sheer ignorance of the history of the Naga political movement or deliberate attempt to victimize some innocent individuals.”
“Perhaps the PDA Govt. has viewed the Naga political issue from very narrow perspectives which is very unfortunate,” it added.
The NPF stated that the attempt of the PDA government is a step which will bring more distrust between the general public and the government machinery. The entire Nagas, irrespective of being a government employee or not, are closely connected emotionally or intellectually with the Naga political issue, it stated, while adding that “every Naga is connected to the issue either in one way or the other.”
Under such circumstances, the exercise will not only be futile, but would also drive the Nagas further from being brought closer to the parliamentary system of governance, NPF maintained.
It also stated that the move will trigger “more social unrest” and ultimately jeopardize the hard-earned peace process.
It maintained that any steps that are detrimental to the present political dialogue should be discouraged “as it would be too costly if the present opportunity is missed again without hammering out an honourable solution like the political negotiations in the past.”
Further, the NPF congratulated Nagaland Governor RN Ravi on completion of one year in office.
It reminded the Governor that Nagas have high hopes on him as someone “who is capable of delivering an honourable solution to the Naga political issue”, and urged him to put the Naga political issue in its right perspective for the interest of all stakeholders.
Meanwhile, in response to the rejoinder issued by the NDPP on the statement given by the NPF President regarding the way the PDA is running the affairs of government, the NPF said that “Perhaps the NDPP could not swallow the bitter truth that has been revealed by the NPF President and the Leader of the Opposition on how a popular government should function in a parliamentary democracy.”
Alleging that the NDPP the PDA government cannot take responsibilities for its own decision, the NPF stated that even the with the issue relating to self declaration, the PDA government is desperately making an attempt to shift its responsibility although the Cabinet decided on July 3 on this very issue.
The PDA cannot shy away from its responsibilities by shifting the blame to the Raj Bhavan so long as they run the Government, the NPF stated.
The NPF reiterated its demand for the PDA government to step down, stating that “Any government which cannot stand on its decision and which cannot protect its employees/citizens have no right whatsoever to run the Government.”
