ASSEMBLY SESSION 2018-19 : Two settlements needed for Nagas – Rio

Kohima Bureau Kohima, March 24 (EMN): Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio today said that Nagas were living in two separate countries- India and Myanmar- thus, two political settlements were needed, one in each country. In his concluding remarks to the discussion on the motion of thanks to the governors’ address which was delivered in the assembly on March 22, Rio while appreciating opposition leader TR Zeliang for having written two letters to the NSCN (K) leadership to return to ceasefire with the government of india, reminded that Nagas were unfortunately divided in two countries. He stated that the government of India has inherited this division of the Nagas: a group Nagas are in Myanmar, and a bigger group in India spread over four states, with Nagaland as the centre, Manipur having a big block and smaller groups in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. This, he said, was what makes the peace process, the negotiation for the Indo-Naga political issue, very complex. Rio opined that one agreement on one side could not settle the issue in two countries. With the Nagas being recognised in Myanmar, he felt that the Nagas should draw a ceasefire with the Myanmar government and negotiate a settlement. “We cannot call Nagas in Myanmar to have a settlement in India,” he pointed out while also expressing the need for the people belonging to NSCN (K) who are on the Indian side should draw ceasefire and join the dialogue. Rio asserted that the legislators will continue to play as active facilitators and emphasised the need for members from both treasury and opposition benches to join hands and pursue this goal together. Meanwhile, replying to criticism from the opposition bench regarding the NDPP and BJP relationship, the chief minister explained that the NDPP and BJP agreed on a seat-sharing so that there was no clash or misunderstanding and it had helped and ensured understanding among the two parties. “This sent out the right signal to the people and the response was overwhelming, unlike others who did not find any alliance partners,” he said. We carried out a joint campaign and fought as a team and that was why the PDA was strong and stable without semblance of trust deficit, Rio said. The chief minister also promptly dismissed questions posed by the opposition members concerning party equation in the cabinet as well as allocation of portfolios by asserting that those were issues within the coalition family and others (NPF) should not be too worried about them. “It may give them sleepless nights but it is our business so, leave us alone, we have no problems and we are functioning smoothly,” he added. On the questions raised by NPF regarding the NPP and JD (U) joining the PDA, Rio said it was natural for them to join the PDA as the two parties were also alliance partners in the National Democratic Alliance in New Delhi. “They have strengthened us and we welcomed them with open arms,” he said. On criticism of the governor’s statement wherein he said, “My government has come back to power...,” the chief minister said this could be interpreted in any way. He stated that in 2003, 2008 and 2013 the NPF went to the people under his leadership as the chief ministerial candidate, therefore, the governor may be more convinced that his government has come back. He expressed gratitude to the people and the parties who stood by him to come back for the fourth time.   On the settlement of the Indo-Naga political issue, he said the House had been urging the negotiating parties to expedite the process and the PDA’s stand remains the same. He asserted that the members would make any contribution possible to bring a solution that upholds the Naga history and political rights in an honourable manner and one that is acceptable to the Naga people. On the governor’s ‘so-called’ statement that settlement would come within six month’s time, Rio said he had also read about it in the newspapers but he had no confirmation of the statement. He stated that it was not in the knowledge of his new government. “Maybe he (Acharya) was very keen and wants solution early, or for what reason he made that statement, it was not personally communicated to us,” he said. He also reminded that it was the collective responsibility of all the members of the house to give their best efforts to bring an early solution. Regarding the critical opinions about the swearing in ceremony of his ministry in a public ground, Rio asserted that the day – March 8, 2018 – will remain in the history of the state as for the first time, four chief ministers of neighbouring states, Union Defence minister and Union Minister of State for Home Affairs attended the event. The manner in which the swearing-in took place reflected the mood of the people and the swarm of the masses was absolutely spontaneous, he said. The ceremony, like all others, he recalled, started with the national anthem and ended with the national anthem. However, he admitted to introducing two items- an opening Christian prayer by the state chaplain and a Christian hymn sang by a renowned Naga choir attired in Naga traditional dresses. This itself was unique and was appreciated by the people within and outside the state, and it had the permission of the governor, he added. Stating that the event was live-streamed and watched by hundred thousands. “We should be all be proud of the positive manner in which we could project our state,” he said, while stating that the opposition members will do well to understand that his public speech delivered was after the ceremony, and that they were aware it was a common practice for a civic reception immediately after a swearing-in ceremony. On concerns raised over atrocities against Christians in different parts of the country and elsewhere, Rio joined other members of the House in condemning atrocities, suppression against minorities and weaker sections and women’s rights abuse on ground of religion. “We are concerned for all our fellow Christians, not just in India but all over the world...humanity must continue to make efforts to ensure that all citizens around the world are allowed to live respectable lives without any obstruction to their human rights,” Rio said. He also underscored the need to not politicise those issues to incite public emotions or mislead the people. On matters related to the roads sector, he said this was a concern of every citizen of the state and one of the first cabinet decisions was to improve the roads- repair, maintain, renovate and fill up the potholes. Referring to scathing jibes made by opposition members on this initiative, Rio remarked that they have conveniently left out the words ‘repair’ and ‘maintenance’ and only took up ‘potholes’. He reminded them that the new government was trying to do what the NPF had failed to do. On the NPF party’s apprehension on how Rio’s government could repair the roads when there was no money, he said it was a self-exposing statement. Whatever wrong the previous government did, he said the PDA would try to make them right. It is the healthy to have a strong opposition to criticise and point out the mistakes of the government and to keep the treasury bench and officials on their toes so that they perform better, he added. On the matter raised by opposition leader Zeliang regarding defective EVMs during the election, he said the problem was faced by others as well and underlined the need to study the issue collectively. As for the result of the result of 6th Tening AC result, the chief minister said he was informed by the CEO that it was only a tabulation mistake and the mistake was corrected. He also vouched that the CEO needed to put an inquiry as to how it came about. He assured his government would take up the matter so as to avoid such mistakes in future. On the repeated statements made by Zeliang regarding PDA of having same policies as the NPF, Rio gently reminded the opposition leader that the last term (2013) was also his mandate. He admitted that he went to Delhi on his own decision and left the party and the government in Zeliang’s hands. He said they went to the people together and the people have delivered their mandate again for the fourth time by the grace of God. With them being in the same government for three terms, Rio told Zeliang that he would find many similarities. He also reminded that the four-lane road was declared by the then Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee during his visit to the state in 2003, after the NPF struck an alliance with the BJP. While acknowledging that the opposition leader had also made achievements and contributions during his time, Rio maintained he should not claim to have done all the development works by himself. The major road schemes, he remarked, were all in the pipepline during 2003-14 and with the NDA government coming to power at the centre, they were sanctioning the schemes.