Taking a dig at the chief minister’s initiative to work for the recognition of the Nagas in Myanmar and his willingness to go even to Myanmar to talk with the military Junta government, former opposition leader and Congress MLA I. Imkong expressed fear that Rio was trying to divert the attention of the people from the real issue.
Imkong wondered whether Rio had been authorized by the Prime Minister because Myanmar was a sovereign state and he cannot meddle with the affairs of a sovereign state.
Initiating the budget debate on Thursday, he affirmed the NPCC’s stand for implementation of the remaining 16 point agreement and for integration of Nagas of other states if they were willing to do so. “We should first try to integrate the Nagas and solve the more than six decades old problems,” he said.
Referring to reports that the NSCN (K) was also willing to hold talks with the government of India, Imkong asked the chief minister if he would support and facilitate the same. He also wanted to know whether the CM was in touch with Khaplang.
The former opposition leader also drew the attention of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly on the ‘totally’ contradictory stands of both the Government of India and the NSCN over solution to the vexed Indo-Naga political issues.
Imkong pointed out that the Naga undergrounds were issuing press statements from time to time stating that they would not accept any solution within the purview of the Indian constitution whereas, the union home minister in no uncertain terms had stated that there would not be any solution to the Naga political problem outside the Indian constitution.
He said talks had been going on without any breakthrough between the NSCN (I-M) and government of India for the last 12 years.
Imkong urged the state government to pursue peace talks with Naga underground groups and improve the law and order situation in Dimapur. He said the state government should vigorously pursue both Centre and Naga underground groups to speed up peace talks for finding a settlement of the political problem.
He told the house that as representatives of the people, they should not remain mute spectators but go to the people and ask if they should fight till their last drop of blood for sovereignty.
He regretted that the 10th Legislative assembly’s efforts for joint parliamentary political affairs committee had failed because of what he said was the half hearted initiative of the leader of the house. In this regard, Imkong said that constituting the DAN Political Affairs Committee would not solve the Naga political problem and further rebuked the DAN’s claim of acting as facilitator.
On the other hand, Imkong congratulated the FNR and other NGOs for their tireless efforts in containing the killings among the Naga underground groups. He also termed the signing of Chiangmai ceasefire agreement as a good sign. He reminded that the Naga political problem was a problem of the Nagas and that no political party should try to take mileage.
On the bogus teachers appointment and NPSC scam, he said the chief minister should take severest punishment to those involved in it, be it ministers or officials.
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