Dimapur, September 11 (MExN): The Working Committee Naga National Political Groups (WC-NNPGs) today commended the Government of Nagaland for convening a joint consultative meeting on the crucial Indo-Naga political issue on September 12 and stated that such an initiative should clear away all cobwebs in the way of a political solution.
In a press release issued on the eve of the meeting, WC-NNPGs noted that the Government of India (GoI) and NSCN (IM) had “concluded the dialogue after 18 years of talks” with the signing of the Framework Agreement (FA) on August 3, 2015. However, it pointed out that the contours of the talks are still shrouded in mystery, other than a “single-page FA.”
To this end, it maintained that the GoI, after three years, on November 17, 2017, officially invited the WC-NNPGs for political negotiations after having “realised the futility of leaving the primary stakeholders outside the purview of the FA.” Thereafter, the GoI agreed to “accept the historical and political rights of the Nagas,” which paved the way for the crucial agendas to be laid on the table. The ‘Agreed Position’ was signed between the GoI and WC-NNPGs on November 17, 2017.
The WC-NNPGs also claimed that as early as 2012, NSCN (IM) Ato Kilonser Th Muivah “made it clear that the matters of sovereignty and integration were subjects not feasible at the present time and therefore not a part of the dialogue.”
Even within the restrictions and constraints imposed by the subjects omitted from the talks with NSCN (IM), the WC-NNPGs negotiated and achieved a clear separation of legislative powers between the Parliament of India and the Nagaland State, it added.
Similar delegated powers were structured for Naga territories in Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, and Assam, and no Naga territory is neglected, the WC-NNPGs asserted. Accordingly, the Committee stated that as the September 12 consultative meeting is called within the parameters and extent of the executive power of Nagaland State, the resolution has to “endorse all such matters, whatsoever settled on matters pertaining to Nagaland State alone.”
“The question of sharing sovereign powers with the Union of India would take its natural path in the near future,” it maintained, adding that a clear separation of legislative powers has been achieved through the bicameral legislature and further bifurcation in their respective fields.
It also stated that the political solutions “do not, and will not” involve the surrender of arms or any such procedure detrimental to the dignity and self-respect of the Nagas. It is agreed that the Indian Passport Act will be amended to include a separate page to mention the identities of Nagas, the WC-NNPGs stated.
All unresolved political matters will be negotiated through the political representation of new legislature and constitutional bodies that would come into force through the agreement that is on the anvil, it elaborated.
To this end, it conveyed that the scheduled joint consultation meeting hopefully would not revert the responsibility back only on the shoulders of the Naga Political Groups. “There has to be an endorsement of whatever matters are already agreed between the Government of India and the negotiators,” it added.
As per the WC-NNPGs, such action would give “impetus and confidence” to the GoI to enter into a political agreement and implement it with immediate effect during the tenure of the present government. It would be unwise for the Nagaland legislature and tribal leaders to wait for a congenial political situation and settlements on the matters of other neighbouring states, it suggested.
The political and tribal leadership of Nagaland has to stand for the territorial integrity of Nagaland first while not ignoring the rights of our land and people in other states, it added.
As urgently desired by all the Nagas, the PAC is also expected to officially endorse the GoI for the immediate implementation of the agreement besides routine assertion "to pave the way,” the WC-NNPGs stated.
