Adviser I&PR and Soil & Water Conservation and BJP legislator Imkong L .Imchen has clarified that as an elected representative of the people since 2003, he is alive and concerned about the opinions of the Naga public and therefore, by reflecting such opinions in public domain he felt that he has done nothing wrong by openly airing people’s opinion.
Addressing media on Tuesday at Kohima, Imchen was clarifying to a speech he made at an event in Mokokchung on October 25 which received intense flak from NSCN (I-M).
In that speech, Imchen claimed that “100% Nagas today wanted a political settlement”, but expressed concern that “our negotiators want to prolong it.” Imchen also referred to the statement made by Union Home minister Amit Shah and other Central officials including a statement made on the floor of the Nagaland assembly where it was made clear that the government of India will not concede to the demand of the NSCN (I-M) for separate flag and constitution.
He said that if “that is the rigid position of the Government of India, then Naga people should opt for other option so that a workable solution can be emerged.”
It may be recalled that in his speech at Mokokchung on October 25, Imchen stated that when the NSCN (I-M) signed Framework Agreement with the government of India, the Naga people deemed it as a great agreement. However, he lamented that soon after signing the agreement, the NSCN (I-M) began objecting to their own agreement (alluding to the demand for flag and constitution).
“We don’t understand why they are objecting in their own agreement…we only understand that they are not interested in bringing a solution,” he said. He reminded that the Naga public were the real stakeholders including the 60 legislators of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly. “…It is not an individual owned property but of the Nagas. The sacrifices of are still afresh in the minds of the Naga people,” he stated.