EMN
Dimapur, March 11
Rajya Sabha MP, Khekiho Zhimomi has insisted the government of India to give a ‘Final Touch’ to the century-old Naga political issue which successive governments have failed, saying, “Naga political issue is a national political issue and the ‘father of all insurgencies’ in the Northeast India. While participating on the presidential address of the Joint Session of the Parliament, Zhimomi lamented that successive governments have failed to cover the paramount issue of the north east - growth of insurgency where the Naga political issue is alive and going on for almost a century. He said that there cannot be two opinions on the Naga political issue and that it is high time the issue is addressed.
Reminding the members of Parliament about hundred years of war between the English and the French, Zhimomi said, no ceasefire was ever heard of continuing beyond 18 years and with more than 80 rounds of talks. “It is the eighth wonder in the political approach.”
Zhimomi in a statement said, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made a good beginning on the footprints of Atal Bihari Vajpayee by giving recognition to the uniqueness and genuineness of the Naga history. The MP has congratulated the Prime Minister on behalf of the State for exempting Dr. S.C.Jamir from the ‘rather spoil system which we see as a good beginning’.
He also stressed the need to treat the people of the border areas equally, be it in the southern front, western front, northern front or the eastern front. “One such example is the Disturbed Area Act of 1985 where it is not applicable to all border areas whereas Nagas are born with it.”
The Member of Parliament recalled with gratitude to former prime ministers such as Pandit Jawaharlal Nerhu, the first prime minister of India for having understood the political issue of the Nagas and that Military Operation was not an answer to the issue and thus created the state of Nagaland as the 16th State of the Indian Union.
“Unfortunately, with the death of Pandit Jawaharlal Nerhu, ceasefire was broken for a period of 30 years from 1967 to 1997.”
He said, the second ceasefire was signed between the Nagas and the Government of India in 1997 when the Late Narashima Rao, without any condition invited the Naga freedom fighters to come to the negotiating table where the talks would be at the highest level, ie, the Prime Ministerial level, in a third country and involving a third party.
Further, he said, the ‘healing touch’ was given by none other than the statesman Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee who realized the uniqueness of the Naga history.
Zhimomi however lamented that the ten years of UPA government could not take forward the issue to a positive conclusion.
“May be the coalition constraint, May be the ‘ayaram gayaram’ members and May be at the same time the ‘ayaram gayaram’ political parties too (political compulsions). Thus UPA-I and II failed to address the Naga Issue.”
