• NPF Legislature Party laments lacklustre attitude of the present JLF on the Naga political issue
• Questions chief minister for not welcoming the opposition MLAs
DIMAPUR, OCTOBER 17 (MExN): The NPF Legislature Party, Nagaland has disapproved of the inefficacious state of the Joint Legislators’ Forum (JLF) on the Naga political issue of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly under the present PDA government.
While the JLF comprising of all members of the NLA cutting across party lines have been set up to facilitate for an early amicable solution to the long pending Naga political issue, the press communiqué from the NPF legislatures lamented on the lacklustre attitude of the present dispensation, claiming that the members of the JLF have not been guided and led to meet any of the central leaders under the banner of JLF in Naga Political issue of the NLA.
Rather, the Chief Minister has led only his cabinet to discuss the Naga Issue with the central leaders, even with or without the presence of the Speaker of NLA, it alleged.
The NPF legislators have therefore questioned why the Chief Minister is not welcoming the opposition MLAs “when all that NPF MLAs did was to wholeheartedly support the cause without any conditions attached.” Does the Chief Minister have hidden agendas to present to the central leaders in the absence of the Opposition MLAs? Or is the CM scared of the stand that the NPF MLAs might take in such meetings, it questioned.
Above and beyond, the NPF legislators wanted to know why the Chief Minister is reluctant to take on-board all the elected members when the Naga political talks is at the fag-end and everyone awaits with bated breaths for a final solution to be inked sooner than later.
Pointing out that the role of the elected representatives as facilitators is more crucial at this juncture given the advanced state of the talks between the two parties, the NPF legislatures termed it as a sad reality that the constitution of the JLF on Naga political issue is just being confined to the papers for the optics of the present government.
It is not the time to be conspicuous but rather a time to be vocal and help facilitate for an early solution which is the sole aim of the JLF and the members of the NLA as facilitators, it noted.
The NPF legislators also maintained that while the leader of NPF Legislature Party and Leader of Opposition T.R Zeliang has been very vocal about his views and of the NPF Party, little is heard of where the NDPP party stands.
It also termed unfortunate that the statements put out by the Leader of Opposition on Naga political issue, is being taken out of context and misinterpreted to malign and start a smear campaign by his political adversaries in the sight of the central leaders.
The NPF legislators also expressed concern that the leadership of NDPP has conspicuously been instigating the masses that a final solution should be signed at any cause regardless of whether the Nagas are granted a separate Naga Flag or Constitution.
On this, the NPF legislators said any sort of differences should be handled by the negotiating parties and not by some other third party who is not part and parcel of the negotiations.
The NDPP as a political party which is in government should be more responsible when it comes to an issue which is very dear to the Naga People and refrain from further instigations which could adversely affect the future of the Nagas should the talks derail at this time. The best that elected members can do is to help speed the process and facilitate and not lay down terms and conditions and instigate public for their selfish hidden agendas, it advised.
Meanwhile, the NPF legislators have sought the attention of the Speaker of NLA in convening JLF meeting at the earliest and also make necessary arrangements at the earliest for the members to go and meet the central leaders under the banner of JLF and help facilitate for an early solution without any further stalemate.
