Morung Express News
Dimapur | October 15
The 20-member Joint Legislature Forum (JLF) team led by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio today impressed upon the central leaders in Delhi to hammer out a solution to the protracted Naga political problem before the ensuing state assembly election slated for March next year.
Talking to the Morung Express over phone from Delhi on Monday night, State Home Minister Imkong L Imchen said that the JLF delegation briefed the central leaders on the need to find a solution to the Naga issue so that Nagas are not further divided.
A well placed source from New Delhi also informed Newmai News Network this evening that the visiting 20-member delegation team under the banner of JLF had met and told the Union Home Minister this morning that Nagas don’t want election but the settlement of Naga political issue.
Besides Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, the JLF team also met with the JD (U) Chief Sharad Yadav and NCP President Sharad Pawar. Later in the evening, the JLF comprising of both the ruling and opposition Congress legislators also had a meeting with the Collective Leadership of the NSCN (I-M) currently in Delhi.
“We briefed the central leaders that as far as possible, solution should come before election because if election precedes, then Nagas would be further divided on party lines”, Imchen said.
The Home Minister also disclosed to the Morung Express that the central leaders, especially Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, had taken serious note of this concern and conveyed their sincere willingness to solve the Naga issue”.
Elaborating on the need for an early solution, the State Home Minister said that when Government of India entered into ceasefire with the NSCN (I-M), there was only three factions but presently there are 6-7 factions in Nagaland.
“Government of India is fully aware of this situation. But the Union Home Minister has mentioned that neighbouring states like Assam and Manipur should also be taken into confidence while hammering out a solution to the Naga problem”, Imchen said.
On the outcome of the meeting with the NSCN (I-M) Collective Leadership, the Home Minster said the JLF delegation briefed the Collective Leadership on the resolution of the JLF. Imchen said the NSCN (I-M) leaders were “quite appreciative” of the stance and endeavour of the JLF.
To a query to comment on whether “solution” would precede “election” or otherwise after JLF’s meeting with both the central leaders and NSCN (I-M) collective leadership, the Home Minister commented that they (JLF) are hopeful that solution would come first but that he cannot say for sure since it is for the Government of India to decide.
In another information given through the Northeast Press Service (NEPS), Forest Minister MC Konyak said that the Union Home Minister had disclosed to the JLF team about his discussions with Chief Ministers of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur so as to reach the Naga issue to a logical conclusion.
“We are happy that the Home Minister has already initiated talks with neighboring Chief Ministers to find ways to reach the Naga issue to a logical conclusion,” Konyak said. “This is a positive development and because unresolved Naga issue is not only a problem for the State of Nagaland but also for the neighboring states particularly Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Manipur.”
IANS also reported that the Union Home Minister, Shinde has been tasked by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to speak to the chief ministers of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur -- all three states are ruled by the Congress -- to thrash out a final settlement, informed sources said to IANS. Also the Centre’s interlocutors’ team led by former petroleum and natural gas secretary R.S. Pandey will continue with its negotiations with the Naga groups from the four states, besides the NSCN-IM to achieve a larger agreement on the peace process, they said.
On Tuesday, the JLF will be meeting with BJP leader Sushma Swaraj and interlocutor to the Naga peace talks, RS Pandey, the Home minister informed.
However, it is still uncertain whether the JLF team will be meeting the Prime Minister. Sources said since this is going to be the last leg of the JLF to New Delhi the former will seek appointment to meet Dr Manmohan Singh in the next few days time.
(With inputs from Newmai News Network, NEPS and IANS)
