Dimapur, June 7: As solution to the Naga political issue and peace talk over NSCN-IM’s still remains up in the air due to repeated insistence for separate Naga flag and Naga constitution, the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), which governs the Nagaland government, has urged the Centre as well as the Naga groups not to back out from what has been committed, in writing and otherwise, during the last 25 years.
UDA Chairman T.R. Zeliang, also former Chief Minister, on Monday said that the ruling alliance had conveyed the sentiments of the Naga negotiating groups to central leaders and that Government of India should not change its stand from what had been committed to the Nagas through former interlocutor R.N Ravi and present government representative A.K. Mishra.
Ravi is now the Governor of Tamil Nadu and his tasks are now being performed by Mishra, who, since September last year, has visited Nagaland twice and held a series of meetings with all the stakeholders, including NSCN-IM and the government.
“The negotiating parties should not back out from what has been committed to each other. With this approach Nagas can expect that the talks will come to a logical conclusion at the earliest. The ongoing talks so far are positive,” the Naga leader said in a video message.
Referring to various reports in the media and elsewhere and without mentioning the name of former Chief Minister S.C. Jamir, Zeliang said ‘loose remarks’ made by some Naga leaders based on speculations and hearsays have caused misunderstanding and confusion among the Nagas.
“I appealed to all right-thinking Naga leaders to refrain from making unsubstantiated comments. Any lawmakers, public leaders and everyone have the right to speak out for the common welfare of the Nagas.”
“However, one must remember that unlike the 1960s when overground groups were part of the (peace) negotiations, it is the Naga nationalist groups who are part of the negotiations today,” he stressed.
He said that as the undivided armed group Naga National Council was not consulted prior to the signing of the 16-Point Agreement in the 1960s by Government of India and the Nagas, the armed conflict continued.
“The UDA government wants inclusiveness and involves everyone to settle the Naga political issue,” the former Chief Minister said, adding that any unfounded and unwarranted remarks might mislead the most sensitive peace process.
Jamir is the only surviving signatory of the 16-Point Agreement that led to Nagaland’s creation as a state in 1963. Of late, he had warned of an impending earthquake in Nagaland with epicentre in Delhi.
Few Nagaland MLAs had recently made certain statements which the NSCN-IM had taken note of.
Appreciating the ‘genuine’ effort of the negotiating parties, the UDA chairman said one should not believe that the final agreement on this complex and sensitive issue would be inked secretly and imposed on the Nagas. The UDA government headed by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has been working vigorously to settle the Naga political issue involving every shareholder.
“The 60 MLAs have committed to pave the way for smooth transition as and when there is a final settlement… However, the demand for the resignation of the democratically-elected members at this juncture by individuals and certain sections of society is uncalled for. UDA requests all Naga organisations and Naga leaders to avoid issuing public statements based on speculations and hearsays,” he added.
The Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) is the dominant party of the ruling alliance UDA in Nagaland with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has 12 MLAs, as one of the important constituents.
Recently, 21 of the 25 MLAs of the Naga People’s Front (NPF) led by Zeliang merged with the NDPP increasing the strength of the NDPP to 42 in the 60-member Assembly.
Both the BJP, the NPF and the NDPP are the constituents of the opposition less all-party UDA government, formed last year to take forward the Naga political issue between the Centre and Naga outfits and various other groups.
The election to the 60-member Nagaland Assembly is expected to be held in February-March next year and all the political parties and the state government are keen to resolve the much expected issue before the polls.
The NSCN-IM’s repeated insistence on a separate Naga flag and Constitution has become a big hurdle in the way of resolving the Naga issue. After signing a formal ceasefire agreement with NSCN-IM in 1997, the Central Government has held more than 85 rounds of negotiations with the NSCN-IM and other Naga groups.
