JLF resignation not yet, final decision likely on Dec 13
Al Ngullie
Morung Express News
Dimapur | December 10
Following a crucial meeting of the Joint Legislative Forum (JLF) held today, the Speaker of Nagaland Legislative Assembly Kiyanilie Peseyie said that the meeting deliberated on the Nagaland political issue and the ongoing peace process. “The JLF has decided to appeal to the government of India to make the offer of settlement of the Indo-Naga political issue immediately so that a settlement that is honorable and acceptable to the people keeping in mind the unique history of the Nagas, is brought about before the conduct of the forthcoming elections to the Nagaland Legislative Assembly,” the Speaker said in a press handout received here.
“The JLF has also decided to approach all political parties, civil societies and church organizations to resolve the Naga political issue through a political settlement that is honorable and acceptable to the people. In pursuance of these decisions, the working committee of the JLF will meet at the official residence of honorable Speaker in Kohima at 11:30 AM on 13th December, 2012.”
The JLF, comprising the ruling allies and the opposition bench of Nagaland State Legislative Assembly, is to meet on December 13 to finally decide whether the entire 60 elected members should resign or not either ‘before election’ or a solution is arrived at from the Government of India-NSCN (IM) political talks.
The Naga People’s Front-led Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (NFP, DAN) will be consulting with its coalition leadership as would the opposition Indian National Congress over the ‘proposal’ to resign before any ‘solution’ to the Naga political process, senior political leaders said today. The proposal to resign en masse, all 60 members, was pitched to the Joint Legislators’ Forum by the Congress. The opposition continues to state its willingness to resign before the solution.
The decision to meet on the 13th of December with all the political parties and civil society was taken today, December 10 at a JLF meeting in Chumukedima, Dimapur. The scheduled meeting would be in fact, “consultative” in nature, with all-political parties, civil society groups and the church called to the event, set to commence from 11:30 AM at the Legislative Assembly Speaker Kiyanilie Peseyie’s official residence in Kohima.
Senior NPF Minister TR Zeliang said today’s meeting was ‘just to share opinions’ where the Congress leaders pitched a proposal to the NPF party that the entire 60-member NLA resign ‘before solution to pave the way for a solution.’ The Congress leader said it had proposed to the NPF that all the 60-members resign ‘before elections or the solution.’ We will meet again and decide, NPCC President SI Jamir said this evening.
Also, a senior member of the state cabinet said on condition of anonymity that there is ‘no point in resigning as the term of the current government is almost over.’ The source also opined that ‘elections can be postponed if needed. If the Government of India is sincere, it ‘should come up with a solution before the tenure is over; the ball in now in the GOI’s court,’ the cabinet leader said. The tenure of the NPF-led DAN government, its second, is to complete on March 31, 2013.
NPF President Dr. Shurhozelie was also contacted for comment. The Minister said he was unable to attend the meeting as he was engaged in official duties.
