Dimapur, Feb. 4 (EMN): The NSCN (IM) has reiterated its stand that ‘imposed election (in Nagaland) is not acceptable to the Naga people.’
A press statement from the group on Sun. asserted that it ‘fully supports the prudent decision of the Naga people’ to choose solution of the Naga issue, and not go for elections.
“We will stand by this decision to the end. We fully appreciate the wisdom of the Core Committee (CCNTHCO), the churches, tribal bodies , apex Naga organizations including Naga Hoho, Naga Council Dimapur, Naga mothers, the Naga Students' Federation, ENPO and others for their earnest and consistent decision to stand by the Naga people’s will.
“The NSCN shall uphold the historical and political rights of the Nagas and sincerely endeavour to negotiate an honourable political settlement based on unique history and situation of the Nagas and the 3rd August, 2015 framework agreement between the GoI and the NSCN. We will not betray the responsibility and trust reposed on us by God and the Naga people,” the statement read.
The group warned that “serious consequences as per the azha of the government shall be imposed on any national worker found defying the decision of the Naga people.”
Political parties asked to prove their worth
The CCNTHCO has also issued a statement asking political parties to ‘prove their worth’ by not issuing party tickets.
“The CCNTHCO expects that all those political parties who signed the pledges on their own volition to pave way for solution first and for the purpose of which they committed not to issue party tickets will prove their worth only when one puts it into action. What CCNTHCO is expected to shoulder, it has accomplished its assignments. The rest are therefore left to those who are supposed to implement the resolutions practically,” it stated.
The solution to the Naga political issue, it stated, has become imperative ‘as it can give answers to lot of our questions, it can mitigate our burdens and bring sustainable peace’ to Naga lands. “To this end, the GOI has agreed to jointly work out answers. Indeed, this is the opportunity for the Nagas to avail that chance at this very moment.
“The deep concern of the conscientious Nagas is that if we are to hinder the progress of the negotiations though not necessarily derailing it ourselves, the greater loss will be to us. The need of the hour is therefore how we can collectively and cohesively give the requisite impetus to the processes of negotiations and to urge for expeditious logical conclusions. With this very ambition, the Nagas from all walks of life mutually agreed to give priority chances to political solution than having election simultaneously with the processes of negotiations.”
This in turn brought ‘the Nagas together in a spectacular manner to come to a consensus decision for solution before election’, according to the committee. Anyone, it added, ‘can misconstrue’ the push for solution before election as anti-constitutional or anti-India. “The solution in the present context should never be misread. Solution, when arrived will be good for Nagas in particular and for GOI in general.”
The committee, it reminded, was not the ‘sole authority with powers to force anyone to refrain, be it a political party or an aspiring election candidate from participation’ in the elections.
“It is therefore the bounden responsibility for every Naga to voluntarily contribute towards solution and none should hinder the processes for negotiation. Particularly, the Naga leaders and the sensible Nagas must never depend on someone else to clean the Naga dirty linen nor should anyone irresponsibly opt for posture of ‘holier than thou’ at the cost of common man in this venture.”
