NSF denounces Nagaland government's profiling of its employees

Dimapur, July 24 (EMN): The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) has condemned what it termed as ‘malicious exercise’ undertaken by the state government through the Home department-political branch dated July 7 by directing all the head of departments to obtain information from government servants regarding family members and relatives in underground organisations.

The NSF, in a statement issued on Thursday, denounced usage of the term ‘undergrounds’ to refer to the Naga national workers. The federation reminded the government that the unique history and situation of the Naga people has been officially recognised by the government of India after which a long-drawn political negotiation ensued. NSF, therefore, stated that it was unbecoming to refer the torchbearers of the internationally recognised movement in a manner which undermines the mutual respect and understanding reached between the Naga political groups and the GoI.

Accusing the state government of evading all rationale by resorting to profiling its employees, the NSF, which claimed to represent the voice and aspiration of the Naga youth and students, affirmed that it would not allow such issue to happen under its watch.

“This attempt by the GoI reeks of influence from adversaries of the Naga people to sabotage the hard earned peace in Naga inhabited areas by holding the family members of our freedom fighters as hostage. Such an attempt will only prove counter-productive as the flame of the cause that is just and fair can never be put out from the hearts and minds of the Nagas,” the statement read.

The NSF was confounded by the timing of the directive issued by the GoN as the negotiation for a final solution to the protracted Indo-Naga political issue is at the final stage.

“The subjected memo is only adding fuel to the murmurs doing round that the GOI is not serious about finding a solution that is inclusive, honourable and acceptable to the Naga people by thrusting its might upon the Naga negotiators,” the NSF added.

Taking into account the seriousness of the situation, NSF has appealed to the state government to review the above stated directive and ensure that the same is not implemented as it is against the interest of the Naga people who had voted them to power. Instead, it has urged the government to sincerely focus on finding a permanent solution to the protracted Indo-Naga political issue by taking on board all the stakeholders.

Further, the NSF has taken a serious note of the ‘unpopular’ approach of the Nagaland Governor RN Ravi, while dealing with the Naga people in his dual role as the GoI-appointed interlocutor as well as the constitutional head of the state of Nagaland. The NSF strongly appealed to the interlocutor’s office to delve seriously into the task assigned to him and ensure that a negotiated final settlement to the protracted Naga political issue is brought about without further delay.

It further urged the governor to extend his support to the ongoing political dialogue by restraining itself from passing the ‘load of chaos and confusion caused by the failure to find permanent solution to the popularly elected government’.

NSF affirmed that it would be compelled to take up all forms of democratic agitations, should the GoN decide against rescinding the ill-conceived directive.