Nagaland Public Action Committee seek honest confession on Naga political issue

Nagaland Public Action Committee (NPAC) has appealed to the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, to spell out on the exact position of the government of India in treating the Naga political negotiation.

In a letter to the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, NPAC has sought honest confession as to how exactly the government of India is treating the Naga political negotiations. He has urged him to tell the truth and not the reiteration of rhetoric.

“Indeed, the time is overdue for the GoI to make it either successful or end the matter in a failure but not the inconclusive business as the time has come for the Nagas to know what lies in our future,” a NPAC statement issued jointly by its convenor, Theja Therieh; co-convenor, Shikuto Zalipu; and secretary, Khondao Ngullie.

The statement pointed out that the political negotiations on the Naga political issue was intensified since his party took the reign of governance of the country from 2014 onward. It lamented that the Naga political negotiations between the Gol and the Naga political negotiators is a story of 26 years running.

It also pointed out that the civil society organisations, non-governmental organisations, tribal bodies and the church had facilitated for expeditious resolution during those years.

“And in the same pursuance, these bodies had sufficiently submitted memorandums after memorandums to you, urging you, to resolve it decisively since the people of Nagaland are ready to welcome it and own it,” the statement read.

It stated that when the Framework Agreement was signed between the Gol and the NSCN (IM) on August 3, 2015, the GoI delightedly publicised its achievement internationally in haste as though everything was settled and subsequently. It added that Gol signed an Agreed Position with the Working Committee of NNPGs on November 17, 2017.

It, however, lamented that the Nagas were given false promise to resolve the political issue would within 18 months time. It also regretted the slogan of the BJP ‘Election for solution’ to pacify Nagaland citizens during 2018 state assembly election, which remained to be a mere jocularity.

It added that the principles of Agreed Position and Framework Agreement between Gol and the Naga negotiators gave high hope for final inking of true peace on October 31, 2019. It, however, regretted that the political solution was considered secondary despite all those 26 years of political investments.

It has accused the Gol of trying to woo the voters in Nagaland with the same old promise that the Naga political issue would be resolved soon post elections in the ongoing state assembly elections.

While quoting the statement of the union Home minister, Amit Shah who said, “Our aim is to make peace talks successful and solve Naga political problem quickly,” NPAC was disheartened to note that the political negotiations are being soft-peddled and keep it alive by Gol so as to use it as a political plank and fishing bait after every 5 years.

It has termed the double talk and such political rhetoric as nothing but rubbing salt to the injury.

It has accused the Gol of trying to brainwash the voters with the promise that the issue would be resolved soon post elections.

In the light of the above stated circumstances, NPAC called upon the Prime Minister to be honest to the people of Nagaland in treating the Naga political negotiations. It, therefore, urged the Prime Minister to tell the truth and not the reiteration of rhetoric. It further stated that time has come for the Nagas to know what lies in future. Dimapur, Feb. 23 (EMN)