Close on the heels of the Jotsoma consultative meet convened by the ruling DAN government with tribal hohos and civil society groups, Nagaland Tribes Council (NTC) has reiterated its stand on issues such as –Inclusiveness, Transparency and Article 371(A).
In a joint statement NTC president Lendinoktang Ao and general secretary Nribemo Ngullie reiterated that ‘inclusiveness’ has become more relevant to the Nagas than anyone else today and cited past instances where discordant solutions had place Nagas in an unsecured environment for too long.
NTC cited creation of Nagaland statehood in 1963 out of the 16-Point Agreement which did not satisfy all Nagas and the Shillong Accord of 1975 which wrought devastative divisions among Nagas as “adequate lessons” that should make Nagas wise enough and ensure that they were not repeated under any circumstances.
In the context of a possibility of another political solution, NTC insisted that Nagas should be open-hearted where all stakeholders such as Naga Political Groups (NPGs) and genuine Naga public organisations be consulted and take each other into confidence so that ultimately, Nagas as people arrive at a consensus on all contentious issues and then enter into a final agreement for solution “respecting the legacy of Naga plebiscite”.
On transparency, NTC said in the context of any durable written agreement between Nagas and the government of India, every word in the content was paramount besides the language.
It said whatever be chosen as demand or proposal for solution, should be made as the common property of Nagas as a whole. NTC said there was no alternative to openness and transparency no matter how inconvenient it may be as this was for the sake of a permanent peace post-solution in the land. While stating that Nagas have a tendency of blaming the government of India for inordinate delay in finding a permanent political solution “time and again”, NTC said Nagas had miserably failed to introspect their own ability and inability to prepare themselves for solution. Therefore, it was imperative, that Nagas become humble and sincere in order to complete the groundwork by rising above internal bickering and be prepared for the ultimate solution instead of blaming each other or others, said NTC.
On Article 371(A), NTC reiterated, that even in the event of solution under the constitution of India, it should be ensured that Art.371(A) be protected. It said if not for substantiation or enhancement of the existing status of the Article, any dilution or polarisation in any manner “is not acceptable”.
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