DIMAPUR, JANUARY 21 (MExN): The WC, NNPGs today stated that in order to safeguard the political and historical right of the Nagas and to self determine their future in consonance with their distinct identity, as per Agreed Position signed on November 17, 2017, the indigenous identity, character and topography of Nagas of Nagaland, Nagas of Manipur, Nagas of Arunachal and Nagas of Assam must be retained, preserved and strengthened.”
“Therefore, in the event of any political agreement with the Government of India, only Nagas indigenous to these political demarcations shall append their signatures representing respective states or areas. The political negotiations are over and in order to ensure that provisions of the agreement in respective Naga areas are meticulously and effectively implemented in letter and spirit, all Naga National workers, upon signing political agreement, must return to their respective ancestral Naga inhabited areas to restrengthen and forge greater Naga historical and political identity,” a press release from the media cell of the WC, NNPGs said.
The statement was issued as a rejoinder to the NPF Manipur State declaration, dated January 12. The WC said that this statement appended by 4 members of the NPF Manipur “is a blot to NPF party as a whole.” The declaration, it recalled, called upon the Government of India (GoI) to resurrect the Framework Agreement (FA).
The WC said that since early 2017, “following the non-disclosure of the content of Framework Agreement to the tribes, the secrecy over Naga historical and political matters and their future raised serious questions and they remain unanswered till today.”
It then reminded that on November 2017, the Agreed Position between GoI and WC, NNPGs “changed the dynamics of political negotiations.” “It answered all questions, recognised the past, addressed the present and entrenched great hope for the future. Transparency and consultation being the key, all stakeholders have been day to day observers and contributors to political negotiations between GoI and WC,” it said.
The WC meanwhile claimed that the “continuous attempt to erase the special status of Nagaland and the guarantees for the Nagas is clearly visible in Manipur Nagas NPF exercise.” “Such prejudiced declaration without knowing the subject matter does not augur well for Naga unity and brotherhood now and in the future. Whether or not NPF HQ at Kohima subscribes to such jeopardizing, haphazard declarations is for the party to clarify,” it added.
It said that the statement “violates the principle of non interference of political parties in the negotiations between GoI and Nagas because constitutionally the four NPF declarants owe allegiance to Indian Constitution.”
It asked the four Manipur Naga signatories to explain the power sharing deal as stated in the Framework Agreement. “Let them reveal the power sharing mechanism and competencies that has been withheld from Naga people till date. Any explanation must have legal and constitutional validity as an indenture without which Framework Agreement is a mere tool to delay political solution and to keep Nagaland under siege in collusion between NPF and anti-solution agents,” it stated.
“The ruling coalition Government of Nagaland appears to be nailed to the wall…The erroneous political gamble by NPF stands exposed. The agenda set up by fringe elements is against the people. The Government of Nagaland is liable to answer for insulting the intelligence of the people of Nagaland,” it said.
