CM urged to convene all-party meeting
Dimapur, Oct. 25 (EMN): Reasoning that the unanimity of political parties ‘according one voice unflinchingly’ will surely bind the hearts and minds of the negotiating teams involved in the Indo-Naga talks, the Nagaland unit of Janata Dal (United) has requested Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio to immediately convene an all-party meeting.
In a letter to the chief minister, the party suggested organising meetings with various Naga political groups in negotiation with the Indian government; to set up a delegation to meet the prime minister and other opposition leaders; and to stage an all-political party dharna in New Delhi ‘to draw the attention of the people of India’.
According to the party, those initiatives “will do justice to our commitment in fulfilling pragmatically, the most prominent section of the manifesto that every political party incorporates during the last several elections that has been conducted in Nagaland since statehood was given”.
Armed forces for public safety—Therie
Dimapur, Oct. 25 (EMN): The president of Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) K Therie has stated that the reported arrival of additional security personnel to the state is for the safety and security of peaceful citizens.
A statement from the NPCC chief on Friday maintained that they are not a threat to peaceful people. “In the given situation, no group has really gone out of solution (sic). Negotiating teams are all for the people and surely the desire and aspirations of the people for peace and progressive life are their primary objective too.”
Therie asserted that “the hope for change” lies post-solution.
NSF agitation from October 30
Dimapur, Oct. 25 (EMN): The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) has announced that the first phase of its ‘democratic agitation’ against the state government’s ‘failure to comply with its demands to set up a Staff Selection Board in the state’ will begin from October 30.
A statement from the federation on Friday directed all school, college and university students in the state to wear symbolic black bands/badges along with the uniform of their respective institution.
“This first phase of agitation shall be carried out until further directive from the office of NSF. Therefore, the federation hereby directs all the federating units and subordinate bodies to take up all necessary actions to ensure that the protest is carried out successfully in their respective jurisdiction,” it stated.
Also, the NSF has directed its federating units and subordinate bodies to forward “a compliance report accompanied by pictorial/video proof” to its office before November 3.
KMC directs food carts to relocate
Dimapur, Oct. 25 (EMN): All the mobile food stall owners at Kohima night bazaar area have been directed to vacate their occupied areas by 9 pm from October 25 onwards.
This was contained in an order issued by the Kohima Municipal Council on Friday.
“Moreover, they are directed to park their food carts at the Old KMC office area at INR 30 per night by 9.30 pm, failing which such food carts shall be seized and fines imposed. Furthermore, their permits shall also be cancelled,” it warned.
Reminding that Naga people have suffered enough bloodshed, the Angami Baptist Church Council (ABCC) has appealed to all the parties involved in Indo-Naga talks to refrain from any more violence “whatever the outcome of the talks may be”.
In a statement issued on Friday, the ABCC asserted that the church is neither a negotiating party nor it has any suggestion to give for the ongoing talks. However, it reminded, violence begets violence and history’s verdict must not be that the Naga struggle destroyed the people for whom it was launched.
“It is undeniable that our society is angry with almost everything. Even a call for prayer and fasting by the church is possibly resented! But that could be very true for some people because it is not easy to pray for the welfare of those who mercilessly killed loved ones and made our land unliveable,” it stated.
The ABCC urged for patience, forgiveness and grace among the Naga community.
