Eastern Mirror Desk
Dimapur, Dec. 27: Minister for Health and Family Welfare Imkong L Imchen vouched for solution before election by deferring the state assembly elections which is likely to be held in February 2018 while maintaining that the proposal to the Government of India to defer the election is to focus on Naga political settlement and not to boycott election.
The legislator addressing media persons on Wednesday Dec. 27 at Hotel Saramati Dimapur asserted that Naga people were thinking lightly on the deferment of assembly elections when they should understand the meaning of 'postponement' of election.
“If Nagas miss this opportunity we will have a historical regret. Nagaland is a cradle of insurgency in India. Election is not a big deal compared to Naga political issue,” said Imchen.
The resolution of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly passed on Dec. 15 2017 in tune with the resolution of the meeting of the former and present legislators held on Dec. 17 2017 at Jotsoma should be taken with all seriousness by all including the GOI, maintained Imchen in a press statement made available to media persons at the press conference.
The press statement from the legislator stated ‘even though I have come across some section of our people aspiring to conduct assembly election saying that they wanted to earn “something” in the election from the candidates and not to talk nor think about the “Clean Election”. As sitting member of the house we are used to election and yet the difference this time is there cannot be a better condition than the present one where there is no opposition in the present assembly’.
There are good wishes from the neighbouring states of Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh who are willing for political settlement, there is unity among the Naga freedom fighters and there is willingness for settlement on the part of GOI under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi , maintained Imchen.
‘According to my assessment meeting the leaders at the Centre and their expression, the Naga political problem is on the final stage and in the right track’ claimed Imchen. When questioned on the non participation of some Naga Political Groups, Imchen while stating ‘there cannot be two settlements’ maintained ‘the GOI might be in touch with the other groups through some source’.
He also opined that the 16 point agreement was never incorporated in the constitution of India, and it would have been better if it was included.
“Let the present term of state government be over and President’s Rule imposed so that the talk continue”, insisted the legislator. On this line Imchen remarked ‘if agreement is brought, state government has to be dismissed and what will be the use of conducting election to be dismissed. Our proposal must meet both ends’.
Imchen further stated in his press statement ‘once election is conducted, the division within the Nagas will effectively return and bitter feelings will be loud and dirty. I see no big deal on the part of the GOI to differ the assembly election temporarily basing on the constitutional provisions which is very clearly provided in the Constitution of India’.
“I am optimistic about the impeding political settlement within 2018. We should also be grateful to Th. Muivah and leaders of the six NNPG for their bold and courageous decision to engage themselves to bring about a political settlement so as to offer the most desired aspiration of the Nagas which is due for the last more than seven decades” he stated.
