POLITICAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE TO MEET TO FACILITATE NAGA POLITICAL SOLUTION
The state government, as in the past, will undertake to hold a consultative meeting with various stakeholders, including civil society organizations, apex tribal bodies, political parties, elected state assembly members and the two members of parliament, as part of ongoing efforts to address the Naga political issue.
This was disclosed to media persons Wednesday by K.G. Kenye, minister of Power & Parliamentary Affairs minister and government spokesperson KG the Minister during a press briefing at the State Banquet Hall.
Kenye stated that the decision was made during the first meeting of the Political Affairs Committee (PAC) at the Chief Minister’s Residential Complex (CMRC), which was attended by state legislators, the state’s two Members of Parliament, and members of political consultative committees from different parties.
Unlike previous years, the PAC has now included representatives from all political parties with elected members in both the Assembly and Parliament, bringing together 60 legislators from eight political parties and independent groups.
This inclusive approach marks a significant shift, as it is the first time representatives from all political parties have come together under the PAC, reflecting a wide cross-section of views. Both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha members provided valuable insights during the meeting, which Kenye emphasized, as crucial for moving forward on the Naga issue.
Kenye noted that the PAC is continuing from where the previous committee left off but believes a change in approach is necessary. Historically, efforts focused primarily on negotiating with the Naga Political Groups (NPGs), aiming to unite them under a single entity to represent the people. Despite repeated appeals for unity, the NPGs have been unable to reconcile their differences and continue to maintain separate identities.
Kenye highlighted the existence of two major agreements: the Framework Agreement and the Agreed Position. While the details of the Framework Agreement remain undisclosed, the Agreed Position has been made public through the media.
He expressed concern that the NPGs’ inability to come together is detrimental to the peace negotiations and could be a significant factor in the ongoing delay in resolving the Naga political issue.
During the PAC meeting, members voiced concerns about the prolonged delay in resolving the issue and agreed on the need for direct public engagement. After the Chief Minister presented a detailed report on major incidents over the years, the PAC decided to move forward by seeking the general public’s opinion on the matter.
Kenye mentioned that there are currently 26 groups, and the number continues to grow, which he described as unfortunate. He noted that only five groups are in a ceasefire agreement with the Central government. Despite the proliferation of factions, Kenye stressed that all groups represent the aspirations of the people and that the state government must recognize their existence.
When asked if concerns about the increasing number of factions had been shared with the Central government, Kenye confirmed that the state had already urged the Centre to stop recognizing new groups. He added that the PAC has also been encouraging existing NPGs to unite and refrain from forming new factions.
Kenye assured that resolving the Naga political issue remains a top priority for the state government. While significant time has been devoted to negotiations, the lack of progress has prompted the PAC to consider a new approach. He explained that bringing political parties together aims to strengthen and expedite the Naga political process. Kenye acknowledged that previous governments had also called for unity among Naga groups, but these efforts had not yielded results.
He said the PAC is of the opinion that adopting a different strategy is essential to avoid stagnation and that seeking the public’s opinion is the best way forward. Kenye emphasized the importance of understanding the people’s perspective before passing any new resolutions, as failing to do so could create further complications.
NLTP outcry: Meanwhile K.G. Kenye, has termed the outcry by some organisations over the state government’s decision to revisit the Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition (NLTP) Act of 1989, as “overblown” and “unnecessary.”
Kenye emphasized that the Act should be treated as a social issue rather than a religious one, clarifying that the government’s intent in re-examining the Act has been grossly misunderstood.
Kenye explained that the decision to revisit the NLTP Act was made to encourage open and constructive discussion about its effectiveness. He pointed out that if the law is not meeting its intended goals, it is natural to consider reviewing and possibly amending it. However, he assured that the core values and the original motivations behind the Act remain unchanged.
Reflecting on the history of the NLTP Act, Kenye recalled that he, along with the then-deputy chief minister, T.R. Zeliang, and Chief Minister Rio, were among the legislators who voted in favor of the Act on November 26, 1989. He stated that they have remained committed to the law over the years, but acknowledged that it might be time to consider whether to continue with the current approach or make changes after more than three decades.
Kenye stressed that the government is open to suggestions and eager to address the issues directly rather than avoiding them. “We may have differences, but would the public prefer a government that shies away from issues to avoid controversy, or one that confronts these challenges head-on? We leave it to the people to judge,” he said.
He reiterated that alcohol consumption is fundamentally a social issue and should be treated as such, rather than being framed as a religious problem. “This is not a religious issue, but a social menace that governments and leaders worldwide are striving to resolve,” Kenye concluded.
ENPO Issue: In addition to the NLTP Act, Kenye provided updates on the Eastern Nagaland People’s Organization (ENPO) issue. He revealed that the state government has been kept informed about the latest developments through meetings with members of the ENPO.
Kenye expressed optimism about initiating tripartite talks involving the Central government, the state government, and ENPO, noting that the new ENPO leadership had voluntarily reached out to the Chief Minister, paving the way for further communication.
He highlighted that the previous ENPO leadership had refrained from engaging with the state government, which led to a stalemate. However, the new leadership’s proactive approach marks a positive shift. Kenye also mentioned that the new ENPO team had recently met with Central government officials in Guwahati.
While acknowledging that there hasn’t been much progress on the ENPO issue compared to previous discussions, Kenye emphasized the need for closer cooperation to resolve the matter. He disclosed that ENPO had submitted a representation to the Chief Minister, requesting an expedited recommendation process as envisioned by the Centre and ENPO.
Kenye clarified that the state government, led by Chief Minister Rio, would not take any position or make decisions without consulting the Eastern Nagaland Legislators’ Union (ENLU), to ensure that the larger section of the population is not bypassed. He stressed the importance of channeling decisions through elected representatives, as sidelining the people’s mandate would be wrong.
Kenye said that while the government does not undermine ENPO’s importance, yet highlighted the need for proper understanding and cohesion between elected representatives and the organization. He cautioned that differences of opinion could arise, especially regarding responsibilities, and emphasized the need for patience and thorough deliberation to avoid mistakes and ensure a well-considered resolution to the issue.