PM urged to take direct charge of Indo-Naga peace negotiation

DIMAPUR — Naga People’s Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR) along with indigenous/ Adivasi leaders and organisations from Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Maharashtra have urged the Prime Minister of India to take direct charge of Indo-Naga peace negotiation to expedite its satisfactory resolution.

The appeal to the Prime Minister was made during a programme on ‘Advancing the Indo-Naga peace process,’ organised by NPMHR at the Indian Social Institute, New Delhi, on May 12.

An update from the NPMHR stated that the house expressed its appreciation on the durability of the Indo-Naga peace process, which has lasted for over two and a half decades. The house felt that the Framework Agreement was not only the highest achievement of the peace negotiation but also the only workable solution in the present juncture, which ought to be respected to ensure honourable and lasting peace in the Naga areas.

While expressing believed that lack of significant progress since the signing of the Framework Agreement could potentially destabilise the effort at peace, the house therefore urged the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, to take direct charge of the Indo-Naga peace negotiation to expedite its satisfactory resolution.

Report stated that important indigenous/ Adivasi leaders including Faggan Singh Kulaste, minister of state for Rural Development and Steel, government of India; Omkar Singh Markam, former cabinet minister and sitting MLA of Madhya Pradesh; Dr. Hiralal Alawa, MLA from Madhya Pradesh as well as several leaders of tribal, political and social organisations such as Vela Ram Gogra of BTP from Rajasthan; BalaJagtap of Prahar Social Party from Maharashtra; Shradha Kashyap of Ekta Parishad and others attended the meeting.

It added that Faggan Singh Kulaste has extended his solidarity and commitment for the cause of peace in the Naga areas. He assured the gathering to take the concerns expressed in the meeting to the political leadership of India for advancing the cause of peace.

Also read: Indo-Naga solution: NSF reminds Modi to keep his word

NPMHR also stated that indigenous/ Adivasi leaders such as Dr. Heera Alawa, Velaram Meena, Rakesh Mahale, Gajanand Mahale, Hafiz Harun, Hari Singh Marawi, Gulzar Singh Marawi, Bala Saheb Jagtap, Arslan Y Khan and Bijaya Panda have expressed their solidarity with the Naga endeavour for peace.

They were also of the opinion that the need of the hour was to build solidarity between various tribal groups and communities.