Naga Political Issue: NNPG working committee unhappy with UDA Govt’s approach

The Working Committee of the NNPGs is not happy with the UDA government’s move of seeking the highest offer from the Government of India on the Naga Political issue.

In a fresh statement, the NNPGs said that the United Democratic Alliance appears to be traversing a dangerous uncharted territory and that conducting preemptive strikes in the corridors of power in New Delhi seeking, in their own words, “Highest Offer” in the impending Indo-Naga political solution goes against the principle of Agreed Position.

The NNPGs statement added that UDA Chairman TR Zeliang, as reported in the media, has sought from the Centre the highest offer from the Government of India. In reference to this, the working committee of the NNPGs advised Zeliang to understand the meaning of the word facilitator and introspect whether he was facilitating or doing something else. The NNPGs added that his media utterances sound more like a third-party negotiator in the Indo-Naga political talks.

While appreciating the apex tribal bodies, civil society organisations and student bodies for playing the role of proactive partners in initiating political negotiations with the government of India, the working committee stated that the facilitator’s role had ended with the conclusion of negotiation in October 2019.

The NNPGs statement further said that the Naga people are aware that former Interlocutor R. N Ravi and Naga negotiators officially declared the political negotiations as concluded on 31st October 2019. Two years earlier, the unconditional support of all Naga tribes, the Church, Peace mediation members, indigenous non-Naga communities, Nagaland GBs, and all Civil societies guided the WC, NNPGs into signing the Agreed Position, the NPPG statement said adding that In the 2018 Nagaland Assembly Elections, while the Naga people peacefully and unanimously endorsed non-participation in the Indian elections, the BJP adopted the slogan “ELECTION FOR SOLUTION”.

The WC, NNPGs too relented and elections were conducted. If elections are announced in Nagaland without Indo-Naga Political Agreement, there will be unprecedented reactions and harsh consequences from the Naga people, the NNPG said.

The NPPGs added that the UDA Chairperson, with BJP as an ally in the opposition-less Nagaland government, must bear moral responsibility should the 31st October 2019 declaration of conclusion of political talks by all negotiating entities, is kept in the backburner. To hurt the Naga sentiment, ignoring the repeated appeal and demand of apex tribal bodies and civil societies, as history recalls, would invite the most painful humiliation for any leader, the NNPGs added.