Congress calls for transparency, broad participation in Naga political talks

DIMAPUR — The Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) on Wednesday said that its participation in the September 12 consultative meeting on the Naga political issue was based on the principles of “consensus-building, transparency, and inclusivity.”

In a press release, the NPCC diverged from former party president K Therie’s assertion that the meeting was “futile and a waste.”

Also read: Therie criticises Sep. 12 resolution on Naga political issue

“While we may find common ground in some of the concerns raised by him, it is also undeniable that these very shared concerns deem it all the more imperative for us to embrace processes that promote consensus building, transparency and inclusivity”, read the press release.

The party revealed that it has formally requested the details of agreements signed between the Indian government and Naga political groups be shared with both the Political Affairs Committee (PAC) and civil society to ensure transparency and facilitate broader participation in the peace process.

Read more: Naga peace agreements should be made public — AICC leader

While the NPCC is not a direct party to the ongoing Naga political talks, “we are, however, as always ready to contribute our utmost to the cause as and when called upon by the negotiating parties”, it said.

It further urged the Government of India to honour the agreements inked with the Naga political groups and implement them at the earliest.

Addressing the call for a new political interlocutor, the NPCC cautioned against attributing negative connotations to the suggestion.

“It would auger well on all of us to refrain from assigning it negative connotations when there isn’t any in reality and create non-existent complications to an already very complicated issue, but to see it for what it is at the most, a means of affecting coordination and accountability”, it added.