Need stable government to ease in Naga solution — Imchen

Kohima Bureau Kohima, March 13 (EMN): Considering the possibility that solution to the decades-long Naga political issue may arrive soon under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, senior legislator of the Naga People’s Front (NPF), Imkong L Imchen has underscored the need of having a stable government in the state to facilitate the political developments. Imchen was apprehensive that there may be hiccups, followed by contrasting reactions among the Naga people in the event of solution to the Naga issue under the present atmosphere. Addressing a press conference in Kohima on Tuesday, Imchen said that the Naga political issue which has been put on hold during the electioneering process will resume now. He lauded the leadership of Modi in ushering a new era of hope for the Nagas. However, Imchen underlined the need to have a stable government in the state to facilitate the political settlement and its implementation thereof. “I have no reasons to doubt the commitment of Modi on the long standing Naga political issue. I personally feel that Modi will succeed in bringing about a solution for the Nagas, where even leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi have failed,” Imchen stated. “NPF feel that a stable government in the state is equally a political requirement so as to facilitate the forthcoming political settlement. A fragile coalition government in the state cannot be expected to withstand any political and social repercussions in the event of bringing about a resolution to the long pending Naga political issue, set aside development aspects”. On behalf of the NPF, he assured that the party will stand firm in support of the ongoing political dialogue. “NPF, though in opposition bench, we have the strength of 26 MLAs in a house of 60 legislators. And therefore, we will leave no stone unturned in our path to contribute our services as and when required,” he said. ‘NPF still maintains our alliance with BJP’ Imchen also suggested the possibility of a new political formation sooner or later ‘if it is in the larger interest of the Naga people’. While stating that the NPF still maintains its alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Imchen said his party was committed to solving the Naga political issue, and that the same yardstick will be applied to its alliance partners including the BJP, National People’s Party (NPP) and the Janata Dal (U). Though accepting that these three political parties have walked out of the NPF-alliance, Imchen maintained that none of the three political parties have revoked the agreement on Naga solution. “We had pre-poll alliance with the JD (U) and NPP, but they have decided to join the NDPP-led PDA govt under the leadership of Neiphiu Rio. Though they left, they haven’t revoked the agreement we had on Naga political issue. And this same yardstick will be applied to BJP, even though they have decided to walk out of the DAN govt. in order to have electoral seat adjustments with the NDPP,” Imchen said.