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NTC members seen with prime minister Modi during their recent meeting at New Delhi. [/caption]
Dimapur, May 29 (EMN): The Nagaland Tribes Council (NTC) has once again asserted that the Nagas of Nagaland “are capable and confident enough to resolve any of our own issues” with the government of India, and that the latter should also take the Nagas of Nagaland “into confidence while settling the issues concerning the state of Nagaland”.
This was contained in a press release issued by the NTC on Monday. According to the NTC, ‘It is obvious that the ‘Framework’ signed between the NSCN (IM) and RN Ravi, in the presence of the prime minister and the home minister on August 3, 2015 could not be outside the purview of the Constitution of India.’
Yet, it stated, except the signatories, nobody else knows the contents of the agreement ‘as it has been kept as secret from the Nagas of Nagaland in particular till date.’
“Meanwhile, in the 18th month of the agreement, the GOI had cleared the deck specifically for the people of Manipur that the Framework does not cover the state of Manipur. The clarification implies that the Framework is meant for Nagaland and yet the Nagas of Nagaland are given just the chance to speculate on the happenings since Nagaland has been virtually kept out from the beginning of the process of negotiation till it reached the ‘framework’ and beyond.
“What better alternative is then left for the Nagas of Nagaland than urging the GOI to take Nagas of Nagaland into confidence while settling the issues concerning the state of Nagaland. Indeed, it is befitting for the Nagas of Nagaland to assert that we are capable and confident enough to resolve any of our own issues with the GOI”, it stated.
Therefore, the NTC had submitted a representation to the GOI when it had called on prime minister Narendra Modi on May 19 last at his official residence in New Delhi.
“The NTC is encouraged by the positive response from the prime minister that the crucial peace process will be carried forward to a practical level with renewed effort for a lasting solution to the protracted Naga political problem.
“While keeping the aspirations of the Nagas alive for the wellbeing of the posterity, the GOI is expected to have genuine negotiation with all stakeholders to work out on the basis of what is giveable and acceptable in the contemporary political situation. The NTC, therefore, earnestly appeals to all section of people to extend support to pragmatic politics by accepting the ground realities”, it stated.
In the memorandum submitted to Modi, the NTC had “made itself clear without ambiguity” that any settlement made “without taking the people of Nagaland into confidence will be ultimately rejected under any circumstances”.
It has stated that the NSCN (IM), “led by Mr. Th. Muivah is just one of the Naga National Political Groups (NNPGs)”, and that the Nagas of Nagaland have not “authorised” the NSCN (IM) “to negotiate and enter into any agreement with GOI for the destiny of the state of Nagaland”.
Quite curiously, it has also stated that ‘5 NNPGs except the hesitant NNC/FGN led by Thinoselie and Shinga have agreed to have political negotiation if so invited by GOI.’
“Besides, the Working Group has entrusted NTC to shoulder the role of mediation between the NNPGs and GOI for political settlement”, the representation stated.
