Common draft for one solution, one accord necessary, says NPF on Naga issue

It says unlike the 16-Point Agreement and the Shillong Accord, the negotiations this time should bear a lasting peace in the region

Dimapur, Sep. 28 (EMN): The Naga People’s Front (NPF) has expressed hope that the government of India would come up with a single ‘draft accord’ so that all the stakeholders may take a call on such ‘draft agreement’ and support the early Indo-Naga solution ‘in clear terms’.

The party issued a press release informing that its leader and convenor of its political affairs mission (PAM), TR Zeliang, had met with Himanta Biswa Sarma, the convenor of Northeast Democratic Alliance, in his office chamber on Monday to discuss the Naga political issue.

“Both agreed that a common draft for one solution and one accord is necessary to be formulated and discussed amongst the stakeholders. Sarma took serious note of the suggestions placed before him,” it stated.

According to the NPF, Sarma’s involvement in the peace process is a big boon to the Naga people and the Northeast region as he is someone who understands and knows the sentiments of the people in the region.

‘A permanent peace is what the Naga people desire and unlike the 16-Point Agreement and the Shillong Accord which were signed in 1960 and 1975 respectively, the negotiations this time spanning over 23 years and culminating with the signing of the historic ‘framework agreement’ in 2015 and the ‘agreed position’ in 2017 should bear a lasting peace in the region,’ it stated.

Zeliang appraised Sarma of the activities undertaken by the NPF party under the banner of the newly constituted PAM. “Further, the PAM members will be proceeding to Delhi to meet the collective leadership of the NSCN (IM) to discuss the competency clauses of the agreement so that a clearer picture can be drawn as we cannot afford more assumptions which can mislead the people,” it added.