Also demands clarity from the legislators on role as facilitators
Working Committee (WC) of the NNPGs has appealed to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home minister Amit Shah to announce the honorable and acceptable political solution to “Indo-Naga conflict”.
WC, NNPGs through its media cell maintained that the arrival of AK Mishra as the new representative of the Government of India (GoI) in the “Indo-Naga matter” had raised greater optimism and given hope to the Nagas.
WC also said it appreciated the decision of NDPP, NPF, BJP elected legislators and all political party leadership in forming the opposition-less government in Nagaland.
WC said “the unprecedented step” in burying all differences, was the clearest signal to the Government of India (Gol) that the Nagaland government, Naga tribes and Civil Societies are ready and prepared for the “much-awaited Indo-Naga political solution.”
The WC also sought clarity from the state government over the latter’s stand on the Naga political issue, since it represents the people of sixty constituencies in the state. It said the government should also respect the desire and aspiration of the 14 indigenous Naga tribes, minority tribes and non-indigenous communities of Nagaland, the Nagaland Tribes Council (NTC), Nagaland Gaon Bura Federation (NGBF) Eastern Naga People’s Organisation (ENPO), Central Nagaland Tribes Council (CNTC) etc.
WC demanded to know as to who was the stumbling block between Nagas and the government of India in the impending solution?, According to WC, the real Naga identity was much more than flag or constitution. WC said that if flag and constitution was the real Naga identity, then why did proponents not resolve it in 1997 in the initial years of negotiations?
WC said that the issue of flag and constitution were dug out after 20 years of talks after it (WC) signed the ‘Agreed Position’ with the Centre on November 17, 2017. After the government of India recognised the right to Naga self-determination in consonance with their distinct history and identity, WC said each passing day it became increasingly obsessive component for some and this describes something else altogether.
WC called upon the present Naga leaders to fight for and retain the real Naga identity that many have lost in the hunt for name, fame and power.
It said that the real Naga political history and identity was moral uprightness, sound judgement, leadership skill, honesty, physical strength with hard labour, bravery, martial spirit, generosity, comradeship, community service and honorable and respectful existence. WC said these were beyond physical forms and that the supernatural element, the Almighty God bestowed these elements in the hearts of Nagas throughout generations.
WC also cautioned that the Naga tribes and history will one day unearth names of leaders of today, who either assisted or played spoilsport in the “imminent Indo-Naga political solution”.
Even as the Naga tribes have expressed utmost urgency for practical and honorable solution to save future generations from further catastrophic existence, WC asked whether the “Nagaland state government, a ready facilitator which is a constitutional arm and also privy to government of India position, choose to remain in a state of slave-master electoral mentality, indulging in impractical political innuendos?”
As people’s elected representatives, WC said that it was time to be real statesmen, agents of inter-generational reformers. And if the intention was real, WC said the true meaning of oppositionless government is to translate words into practical action.
WC said this was the perfect God gifted time for the state government to facilitate the expressed will of the people of Nagaland.
WC also reminded that all the negotiating groups had concluded the talks as on October 31, 2019 and that this was also the official stand of the Centre.
WC maintained that the ‘Agreed Position’ between WC and the government of India and the subsequent ‘Status Paper’ was the result of thousands of consultative hours put in by WC leaders with Naga tribal leaders, current and past Naga legislators and parliamentarians, Naga intellectuals, neighboring community leaders in Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.
According to WC, this was a clear and firm understanding of the past history, present scenario and future partnership that “both Nagas and the GoI will must entrench relationship.”.
It also categorically stated that the Centre and WC, NNPGs blueprint of the “proposed Indo-Naga political solution” was not Nagaland state centric but guarantees adequate political and administrative space and scope for divided Nagas in Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh to protect ancestral land, resources, culture and traditions through redefined political structure.
It added that while there is a great necessity to promote, preserve and strengthen Naga history, identity, culture, customs and traditions beyond the present Nagaland state, the reality and the practical existence of Nagas under various political and administrative boundaries cannot be ignored as the “GoI has made it very clear that state boundaries, as of now, won’t alter.”