Kohima, May 25 (NEPS): Nagaland Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dr TM Lotha, who was part of the Nagaland delegation in the weeklong whirl wind interactions with various central leaders including Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairman Sonia Gandhi on the eve of the crucial Amsterdam talks, said they urged the Prime Minister to spell out the status and the progress of the talks that have been going on right after the submission of the “Charter of Demands” by the NSCN (IM).
The Minister stated that they had even questioned the inability of the Government of India to see the realities on the complex long drawn out Naga political issue and even after six years of submission of the “Charter of Demands” by the group to them to be the basis of “political negotiation.”
“Because, by now, they should be in a position to enlighten us something about the talks,” Dr Lotha was quoted as saying to the Prime Minister.
At the same time, the Government of India entered into two ceasefire agreements with the two Naga underground groups at different points of time. “Yet the factional fights continue unhindered and wondered what is the logic behind all these and how the Government of India remains silent,” the Minister questioned. “It is not only a threat to the peaceful environment but the very purpose of the ceasefires is utterly defeated.”
The delegation also wanted to know from the Government of India whether the NSCN (K) also submitted any “Charter of Demands” to them and if not, whether they have ever asked them to submit such “proposal and make their stand clear.”
On the contentious Naga integration issue, Dr Lotha explained that the matter was incorporated in the 16 Point Agreement when it was signed way back in 1960. “And this remains unimplemented till today and it seems the agreement has not been honored,” he stated.
Ironically, it has now become a fresh agenda for the Nagas on the ongoing political talks. And therefore it has become ridiculous on the part of the Government of India asking neighbors’ consensus for the solution to the integration; as such consensus was not sought when the Nagaland State was carved out from the State of Assam. Thereby the Naga houses, villages and tribes were divided by the imaginary boundaries, Dr Lotha pointed out.
In view of the above, the Naga people should be given opportunity to decide by themselves as to under which State they want to live, the Minister added.
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