Working Committee of the Naga National Political Groups (WC/NNPG) has shot off a missive to Nagaland chief minister, highlighting two pressing issues– suo moto PIL on Nagaland Petroleum and Natural Gas (NPNG) Rules and Regulations and the delimitation of Assembly and Lok Sabha constituencies.
Suo moto PIL on oil: The letter signed by GPRN/NSCN (U) president and convener WC/NNPG ‘gen.’ (Retd) M.B. Neokpao Konyak and working conveners of WC/NNPG and ato kilonsers of NSCN/GPRN (R) P. Tikhak Naga and ‘col.’ (Retd.) Isak Sumi of NSCN/GPRN (K), highlighted the upcoming March 24, 2025 hearing before the division bench of the Guahati High Court regarding the constitutionality of the NPNG rules and regulations.
While pointing out that the government, as a facilitator of the Naga peace talks, had assured the Nagas on several occasions that it was prepared to pave way for political solution, NNPG leaders said it was the duty of the state government to place facts before the court that the matters deliberated in the court were subjects of political negotiations between Nagas and the Government of India.
They cautioned that any deliberation or judicial intervention in these negotiations would be an infringement on the Indo-Naga peace process, as the subject has already been negotiated and has a settled position.
NNPG also said that the state government may question the silence of the Union of India, and ask why the apex court has been kept uninformed on the status of Indo Naga political talks.
The leaders expressed hope that necessary directions would be issued to the Advocate General to ensure the protection of the rights of the Naga people.
Opposition to delimitation process: Regarding the delimitation of Assembly and Lok Sabha constituencies, the NNPG leaders pointed out that during a recent hearing in the Supreme Court, the Solicitor General for Government of India failed to highlight the Indo-Naga peace talks’ status.
The letter reaffirmed that the political negotiations concluded on October 31, 2019, during which Government of India agreed to increase the Nagaland Legislative Assembly seats to 80 to provide representation for all 17 Naga tribes in the Assembly and State Cabinet. “Such a settled position was reached for ratifying special provisions and status that the Nagas have in the Union of India,” it said.
Furthermore, the number of Lok Sabha seats would to be increased to three in addition to the existing single seat. This proposal was agreed upon by government of India after prolonged negotiations. WC highlighted that other smaller states in India have similar seat adjustments to maintain proportional representation.
Furthermore, they stressed that any political struggles that predate India’s independence and simmering till today must have a special political agreement to honor the historical and political rights of the Nagas.
Additionally, WC stressed that delimitation based on outdated census data is unacceptable as the state is currently implementing the Registration of Indigenous Inhabitants of Nagaland (RIIN).
They demanded that the state government immediately halt the delimitation process and convey the resentment of the Nagas to the Union Government for failing to inform both the Guahati High Court and Supreme Court on the already settled political position in the Indo-Naga peace talks.