Bouquets and brickbats on 16-Point Agreement

State chief minister Neiphiu Rio and his colleague Urban Development minister and NPF president Dr.Shürhozelie received grudging support from the Congress Legislature Party over statements purportedly made by the two at the recently concluded NPF Youth Wing workshop over the issue of the 16-Point Agreement.
According to CLP parliamentary secretary C.Apok Jamir, the Congress legislature at its meeting held Wednesday, expressed appreciation at chief minister Neiphiu Rio’s statement under the report ‘Political Hope on earth’ that appeared on November 18 where he(Rio) was quoted as saying: “the Naga Plebiscite had cost thousands of lives and brought much suffering; the 16 point agreement on the other hand brought about the statehood of Nagaland which had immensely benefited the people”.
The CLP said the statement came after all the past few years when the NPF party had been critical of the 16 point agreement vis-à-vis the Naga political issue. The CLP said the NPF leaders had created confusion in the minds of the Naga people by making misleading comments like- ‘the talk is going in the right direction’ or the ‘Naga political issue is at the cross roads and the home minister had even vehemently criticized the 16 point agreement.”
Apok Jamir said that it was now clear that these “high sounding political statements were just gimmicks”.Notwithstanding their earlier condemnations against the 16 Point Agreement, Apok said the CLP felt it was “heartening to note that both Neiphiu Rio and Dr. Shurhozelie, President NPF have admitted and realized the importance of 16 Point Agreement and how it had greatly benefited the Naga people”. However, even as the CLP presented bouquets to the NPF leaders, the Chakhesang Regional Council, NNC has expressed regrets over the statements saying it was “ a sad and painful day for all true Nagas and more so for Naga National workers to hear the chief minister Neiphiu Rio statement on plebiscite.”
A release issued by Chakhesang Regional Council, NNC president Vekronu Dozo said Rio’s statement was “historically distorted’ as the two events cannot be compared”. Dozo further asserted that the 1951 Naga plebiscite was not an overnight decision but “a wise decision taken, based on the mandate of the people.”. Dozo claimed that five months time was also given to all Nagas to discuss about the plebiscite that was voluntarily offered by the NNC to prove their unity and spontaneous willingness to continue live on as a distinct nation. He said, on the other hand, the 16 point agreement was a decision taken by a handful of “self styled Naga leaders and the Government of India against the wishes and without the consent of the people”.
He said it was because of the sacrifices of thousands for the Naga cause that the world “knows about us and we are able to walk with our head held high with our inherent rights and the so called benefits we enjoy”. He said that if Nagas were to prosper, as a nation “we should remember our martyrs with gratitude else we may shamed and cursed as a thankless nation.”