DCondemning the Assembly resolution which called for an “apology” from the appropriate authority…”, Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) asserted that the people wanted justice not apology.
NPCC president K Therie in a press release regretted that the entire resolution on Monday was demeaned by the call for apology. He said that the call for apology over a massacre was an insult to the bereaved families, their villages, the community and to the voice of people crying for justice.
Maintaining that the Assembly had shamed Naga brave hearts, Therie asserted that apology over a massacre was not acceptable, adding that killings and apologies could not be made a precedence.
Towards justice, he said the resolution was blunt and specified that the chief minister and home minister were answerable to the people of Nagaland.
“They cannot run away from their responsibilities. They should answer whether troops from 21 Para had come with their knowledge. If yes, why? If not, why criminal procedure should not be initiated against them? They cannot take cover under AFSPA. I have already explained earlier,” he specified.
Reiterating that people demanded justice, Therie demanded that the culprits must be booked as per law. But, instead of bringing the criminals to book, he observed that the Assembly surprisingly wanted them to apologise and escape from the crime of committing a massacre.
He said the resolution was trying to give the impression that the State was innocent and that the army had conducted the operation without authority from the State government. But, if it was so, then the army had violated the constitution and committed a crime against humanity, he pointed out. And if not, then the army should point out who was responsible, he demanded.
Therie insisted that as constitutional provisions the army had no authority to just come from another State and indiscriminately shoot and kill innocent and peaceful citizens.
“We are sorry for the people. Given an opportunity, Congress will deliver justice,” he declared.
It may be recalled that the NPCC had written to the President of India with a three-point charter of demands, which include constitution of an all-party parliamentary committee to investigate Oting massacre, deliver justice by arresting the culprits and implement political solution under President’s Rule to avoid bias and ill-will.