The Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) will be sitting for two days on September 21-22, 2012 in order to conduct several business of the House. While it is going to be a very short session with perhaps a packed agenda, it will be appreciated if some time can be allocated for discussion on the Indo-Naga peace talks and the Naga reconciliation process, both of which, has been going on for some years now, but without any finality. The NLA is an august House, representing the will and voice of the people and it is only appropriate that before the next election (if it takes place), since few opportunities are left now, opinions can be shared and suggestions made on how to help the two processes not only reach a solution but also come to a meeting point. At least there appears to be a political consensus among the political parties in the State on what needs to be done—early settlement and coming together of all the Naga political groups. But what is still not clear is how we are going to do all these things. It is interesting that we now know where we want to go but we are unable to decide which way or how we can arrive at the destination. So why not the NLA have a free and frank discussion on the floor of the House on how best we can find the way towards a political settlement and reconciliation of the Naga groups.
The NLA is the proper forum for deliberating on questions of public importance. And with the peace process having entered a ‘crucial stage’ and the fast moving political development in Delhi, the Indo-Naga peace process and the equally important reconciliation process now demands urgent attention. Nagas cannot waste anymore time. The NLA ought to represent the voice of the people to the Government of India and the different Naga political groups. And so, a resolution can be passed by the august House on this important issue. A resolution on peace and reconciliation will be historic because this has never been done by the NLA, although Naga people have been crying for peace, unity and an end to factional killings. And if this aspiration of the people is not given voice by the representatives sitting in the NLA, they will be doing great injustice to a cause that is dear to the people.
A resolution on Naga integration has been passed on numerous occasions. Similar resolution has also been passed on Article 371 (A). Surely a resolution on peace and reconciliation is long overdue. The Chief Minister as the Leader of the House must take the lead in this regard. And given that there is already a Joint Legislature Forum (JLF) representative of both the ruling NPF and Opposition Congress, which has been working towards the goals mentioned, the only thing that is perhaps missing is a House resolution. This will add moral weight to the appeals being made to the Naga groups to stop factional killings, reason together, have mutual respect for each other and work on a common platform. If the NLA can indeed pass such a resolution conveying the sense of the House and by that the will of the people, it will hopefully speak to the conscience of the Naga groups and encourage them to come together for the good of the people. Time is indeed running out to get our act together.
