Rio govt forms PAC to facilitate amicable solution of the Naga political issue

In a significant development, the Government of Nagaland has decided to constitute a “Political Affairs Committee”, with the aim of finding an inclusive solution to the decades long Naga political issue.

A circular issued by Nagaland Parliamentary Affairs Minister and Nagaland Government spokesperson KG Kenye stated that the PAC will play the role of an active “facilitator.” The decision to constitute the PAC was taken in a high-level political meeting chaired by Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on May 9.

“This is being initiated once again with a renewed vigour in furtherance to the spirit of the all party Opposition-less government in pursuit of a broad consensus for an early and amicable settlement,” the circular stated.

All Legislature Party Leaders have been directed to initiate the formation of “Political Consultative Committees” in consultation with their respective Party organisations.

The development comes after Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on April 13 had said, that the government will actively pursue the Naga political issue once the parliamentary elections are over. CM Rio specifically said that the Nagaland government constituted Political Affairs Committee (PAC) will hold consutltations with the civil society and the Naga nationalist groups after the Lok Sabha elections.

CM Rio also affirmed that a solution to the decades old political issue is possible under the NDA government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Worth mentioning, that in March, 2008 the first Political Affairs Committee was constituted by the then Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) government to pursue the vexed issue.

The objective of the committee’s formation was to pursue and strive for political solutions to the Naga political issues, besides working to bring unity amongst the different sections of the Naga society.