Therie flays PDA statement on Naga issue

Dimapur, Oct. 29 (EMN): The president of Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) K Therie has termed the PDA’s statement on Naga issue as an attempt to escape and lay the blame on JLF. In a statement issued on Tuesday, Therie claimed that the PDA statement was an indication that it has no vision. “What is honourable to the people? What is acceptable to the people? Who should spell out to both government of India and the teams engaged in the negotiations? Are they not the elected representative of the people enjoying the mandate?” he asked. According to him, the ‘present solution’ is not the end of the world, “Congress has continued to uphold the resolution passed by NNO, the founding fathers of the Congress party, session at Pfütsero in 1972, that it shall endeavour to solve the political problem through peaceful and constitutional means.” Therie stated that most of the current ‘NDPP players’ are former Congress members. “They have reaped the benefits of Congress and even today they are enjoying the achievements of Congress. It is shameless of them to accuse other political parties, when they themselves are defectors,” the statement read. Also, the NPCC chief went on to say that the ‘scope for improving’ on the 16-Point Agreement ‘is still open.’ Stating that the ‘framework agreement’ has been interpreted differently by the teams engaged in negotiations, Therie listed some suggestions to the negotiators. “To improve political structures by way of delimitation of Rajya Sabha, Lok Sabha, Legislative Council or Upper House as in the 16-Point Agreement and increase the state assembly seats to 80 for Nagaland. NPCC’s jurisdiction is Nagaland and therefore, we do not have the authority to represent other cases and as such, we have left the matter to our brothers and sisters; for generous and sustainable resettlement schemes to be flooded to aggrieved widows, orphans and genuine national workers; economic package; we are happy to note that Article 371 (A) will not only be upheld but would be strengthened and explored to extend to contiguous Naga inhabited areas,” it read. On the issue of integration, he pointed out that it is included under clause 13 of the 16-Point Agreement. “Contiguous Naga areas may integrate with new Nagaland State if they so desire. In the matter, Nagaland State Assembly has reiterated in several resolutions. “However, the contiguous areas of Nagas, especially Manipur Nagas, have rejected through mandate by defeating all Naga Integration Council candidates in the elections and further, Manipur state government has repeatedly spelt out that not an inch of land will be parted. Even in the ‘framework agreement’, it was agreed that interstate boundaries shall not be altered. Therefore, the issue is beyond Nagaland's means,” he stated.