Demands all MLAs, MPs to oppose the scrapping of the regime in totality
DIMAPUR, JANUARY 23 (MExN): The Rising People’s Party (RPP) on Tuesday raised concerns and questioned the silence of the majority of the Nagaland legislators and MPs on the suspension of Free Movement Regime (FMR).
“Much has been said on the issue and the sentiment of the Naga People has been expressed. But the silence of most of the MLAs and the 2 MPs comes as no surprise. Except for the NPF legislator Achumbemo Kikon and Home Minister Y Patton, the other remaining elected MLAs and MPs have chosen to either remain silent and sit on the issue or support the removal of FMR that will have a deep devastating effect on the future of the Nagas,” stated a press statement issued by the RPP.
It, however, termed the move to discuss the FMR issue with the other North-Eastern states bordering Myanmar as disclosed by the Deputy Chief Minister Y Patton a welcome step.
The RPP also expressed distress that the 10 Naga MLAs and 1 MP (Naga) of Manipur have not expressed their views on the issue though the United Naga Council (UNC) has written a memorandum to the Union Home Minister opposing the move and calling for strengthening of FMR.
While the Union Home Minister Amit Shah had made the official announcement in Guwahati on January 20, neither the NDPP-BJP coalition nor the state government has made any official statement on the issue. So what exactly is stopping our elected representatives from expressing the desire of the Naga People to the Central Government?, the RPP questioned.
On the statement made by the BJP legislator Imkong L Imchen backing the Centre’s move to end the FMR, the RPP termed it as is “traitorous.” “The act of merely pleasing the BJP high command at the expense of Naga sentiments is totally uncalled for and deserve outright condemnation,” it stated.
It reiterated that the Union Government's intention to scrap the FMR and construct fencing along the entire Indo-Myanmar Border is a divisive policy intended to disintegrate and isolate Naga People and other ethnic groups of the North-East geographically.
Since its announcement, the RPP as well as many Naga civil society organisations including the Naga Students’ Federation (NSF), the Global Naga Forum (GNF), the Naga Hoho and the Naga Indigenous People’s Forum has voiced strong opposition against the proposed move.
In this connection, the RPP has demanded that all the Naga MLAs, including the Naga MLAs of Manipur, and the MPs of the two states, and the major political parties in the UDA coalition government oppose the scrapping of FMR in totality.
“The issue is simple – whether the sitting MLAs and MPs and government of the day is with the Naga people or not,” the RPP stated, while noting that the UDA coalition government has much to do to demonstrate beyond doubt that it is above party politics and that it stands for the Naga People.
The RPP vowed that it will not remain a mute spectator and will continue to “oppose tooth and nail any policy that aims to further divide the Naga People.”
