Dimapur, Sep. 29 (EMN): Even as uncertainty persists over the direction towards which the Indo-Naga talks could be headed in the coming months, the Nagaland Tribes Council (NTC) has called for open-minded approach from the Naga groups engaged in negotiations with New Delhi.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the council reminded that with ‘so much labour’ having brought the negotiations to its current ‘crucial stage’, the Naga groups should not allow the process to become a ‘futile exercise’.
“If any entity tends to undermine the humbleness, the commitment and the participation of the other, it will be a loss to oneself than to the other. Should any entity fail to realise how vital the on-going negotiations are, the ultimate result of such negligence will be nothing more than regret. Should any negotiator become complacent or irresponsible by which the process is led to a stalemate, the obvious consequence will be the wrangle with blame games, which will only produce the seed for retrogression in the long run.
“Having visualised the above, the Nagaland Tribes Council appeals to the negotiators, the government of India (GoI) and the two groups of Naga negotiators not to opt for avenues for the delay of the solution but to have open mind and be bold to conclude the process with solution. The GoI has already set the time schedule within which the negotiators are required to hammer out the solution how hard or easy the negotiation process may be in the greater interest of the Nagas,” read the statement.
It stated that any contentious issue/issues ‘remaining unresolved’ must not be allowed to become roadblock to solution. Any issue which is of common interest will remain a collective responsibility of the Nagas to pursue post-solution, the council maintained.
“In the belief of NTC, the political solution will not only resolve those issues being dealt with by the negotiators but it will have much positive impact on the overall scenario. The Nagaland Tribes Council therefore implores upon the negotiators not to fail the Nagas at this crucial hour,” it stated.
