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Ram Madhav, third from left, in Kohima. (EM Images)[/caption]
Kohima, Sep. 15 (EMN): The Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) national general secretary in-charge of Northeast, Ram Madhav on Saturday said that the BJP was urging for an early settlement to the Indo-Naga political issue and advocating a good ‘permanent solution’ that would satisfy all stakeholders.
The BJP leader, who paid a brief visit to Kohima on Saturday, told reporters that any solution to the protracted issue that is not permanent would set off agitations in future, which, he felt, will not help anybody.
“We are told that the talks are at a very advanced stage and we are hoping that there will be a solution soon, which will be welcomed by all the different stakeholders,” Madhav said. He pointed out though that any settlement would involve not just Nagaland state but its neighbouring states too. He said that each state’s leadership had put across demands and that the government of India shall be looking into them.
It is fortunate that at such a juncture, the states have BJP governments and in Nagaland too, the party is an important partner in the government, he said.
Asked if a solution to the Indo-Naga issue was going to be another slogan for the BJP in the forthcoming 2019 parliamentary elections, he replied in the negative. “We are not doing it keeping any election in mind. We want a solution. Elections are still eight months away. But we want a solution sooner than later.”
Madhav admitted that the issue was complicated as there were many stakeholders even within the Naga groups. Therefore, he said, even at an advanced stage, settlement would take time.
With regard to party’s reorganisation and questions of dissidence in the Nagaland BJP unit, Madhav said every party functionary was equally responsible and important.
Queried about the purpose of his abrupt visit to the state, the BJP leader said he was here to interact with the new executive members of the state’s unit, BJP legislators, and to ‘generally to take stock of the situation in the state’ including the monsoon emergency as well as preparing for the forthcoming parliamentary elections. He said that he would be meeting with Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio. The BJP is in alliance with Rio’s Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) in the state.
When queried if the BJP would be setting up a candidate for the elections, he said the matter would be discussed.
Madhav said that the Northeast region was a very important area for the prime minister; the National Democratic Alliance’s Act East Policy envisages the region including Nagaland as important pivots.
