Naga solution to be ‘inclusive’

At a press meet held after the duo held a meeting with various tribal organisations and NGOs at Police Conference Hall Friday, Dr. Singh, said: “I am sure as we move forward in the process, gradually everybody will come on board because everybody in today’s age and era is wise enough to know and understand the virtues of peaceful environment for growth individually and collectively”.

Dr. Jitendra felt it was more important to unite and bring all those factions not “amicable to us” for the time being, rather then to harp on issues that tend to create division among all stakeholders. 

He however said as things ultimately moved for the good of all, those who were presently not in consonance with government of India for “whatever reason” would also understand the merit of coming around and moving ahead on the issue with government of India.

Interlocutor R. N. Ravi also reiterated that all other Naga groups would also be taken onboard at an “appropriate time”. He said “we have made it very clear that final solution will not be there without taking the Nagas and other groups on board”. 

Ravi said “Naga solution is inclusive and the entire society should be part of it… solution to Naga issue is not for a particular group”. 

When asked if delay tactics to a solution had caused the 14-year old cease fire with NSCN(K) to backfire, Dr. Singh said he refused to be drawn into the matter as it could further complicate the issue.

 R.N. Ravi said the Naga issue was “complex” so arriving at a solution would take time even as it took time to achieve the present stage.

On the June 9 strike, Dr. Singh opined that if a “situational incident” occurred and if a “situational decision” was taken, it had to be done with the “wisdom of the people who are handling it”.

He said the “disrupters of peace” have to be sometimes checked in order to maintain peace and it was also done because government of India wanted peace.

 Dr. Singh described his visit as a mission to build trust and confidence of the people and to make them realise that government of India stood for the development of the region, at a time when the present government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi “keeps North East on a very high priority”.

In order to obtain maximum benefit on development for the North East, initiated by the government of India, he said all stakeholders should ensure an atmosphere of peace, tranquillity conducive to the optimum growth and development at all levels.

Ask about the outcome of the meeting the Naga civil society groups, , Ravi described it as “very positive”. He said every Naga civil society had made it very clear all of them do not endorse violence and that it has no place in Naga society. 

“Nagas want peace and development and solution”, said Ravi.

Dr. Singh and R.N. Ravi visited Nagaland at the directives of Prime Minsiter in the wake of June 4 ambush followed by the surgical strike carried out by the Indian Army along the Indo-Myanmar border.

Jitendra, Ravi meet CM

State chief minister T.R.Zeliang said the prevailing law and order situation in Nagaland and its border with Myanmar was the highlight of the meeting with Dr.Jitendra Singh and R.N.Ravi. 

Zeliang said he told both Dr.Singh and Ravi that the state and civil society groups were unhappy at not being given the chance to persuade the NSCN(K) to return to a cease fire. 

He also raised the issue of connectivity in the border areas of India-Myanmar for development of the region.