Nagaland Congress questions councillor switches and rejects NPF’s support for Ajit Lal, seeking political-level leadership for Naga peace talks
DIMAPUR — The Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) has questioned whether opposition councillors’ support for the Naga People’s Front (NPF) can be considered “voluntary” when, it alleged, development funds for their wards are being withheld.
Responding to the NPF’s clarification on alleged “poaching” of elected councillors, the NPCC on Tuesday alleged that political pressure was being exerted through the denial of development funds, leaving opposition councillors with little choice but to support the ruling establishment to secure development for their constituents.
The party called on the government to disclose ward-wise allocations and releases to establish whether opposition councillors had been treated fairly.
“Development funds belong to the people, not to any political party,” the Congress stated, asserting that such funds should not be used as instruments of political bargaining.
Also read: Naga People's Front rejects ‘poaching’ charge, hits back at Congress
Questions Ajit Lal appointment
The NPCC also took issue with the NPF’s defence of retired IPS officer Ajit Lal’s appointment as the ‘new interlocutor’ for the Indo-Naga political talks.
Lal’s appointment has been reported alongside the proposed inclusion of a Union minister or group of Union ministers in the Indo-Naga talks.
The Congress argued that the appointment did not meet the demand made at the September 12, 2024 consultative meeting on the Naga political issue for an interlocutor of “political / ministerial level” with the confidence and mandate of the government of India.
Read more: NSCN (IM) welcomes Ajit Lal as new Naga talks interlocutor
It stated that the meeting had unanimously appealed for the ongoing dialogue and peace process to be elevated to the highest political level. It contended that the appointment of a retired civil servant instead of a political or ministerial figure did not fulfil that demand.
The NPCC urged the NPF to recognise the need for political will in the peace process, adding that the Naga people were awaiting formal implementation of a political agreement.
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