Nagaland Tribes Council (NTC) has urged upon Prime Minister Narendra Modi to show the “political will” by calling upon the negotiating parties to enter into a mutual agreement before the election to Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) in 2023.
In a memorandum addressed to the Prime Minister, NTC president Toniho Yepthomi and general secretary Nribemo Ngullie expressed gratefulness to Modi for the trust reposed on NTC when its delegation called on him on May 19, 2017 at his official residence.
NTC said at the meeting, it had impressed upon Modi to invite WC of erstwhile six NNPGs (now seven) to the negotiating table. NTC said Modi’s dynamic leadership and sincerity led to the WC, NNPGs officially being invited for negotiations in September 2017. The signatories also recalled that NTC’s first audience with the Prime Minister took place 20 years after political negotiations began between Government of India and NSCN (I-M). NTC claimed that its concern had been for an inclusive political negotiation for a lasting peace.
The talks had eventually led to signing of Framework Agreement with NSCN (I-M) on August 3,2015 and Agreed Position with WC, NNPGs on November 17, 2017.
NTC reminded Modi over delay in arriving at final solution even three years after negotiations between the government of India with NSCN(I-M) and 7-member NNPGs concluded on October 31,2019.
It also referred to the tabling of the report of Parliament Standing Committee on Home Affairs to both houses of parliament in 2018 strongly recommending for an end to talks and to tread carefully and not let “vested interests hijack the peace narratives”. However, the 2018 assembly elections were conducted much against public sentiment over which then BJP in –charge Nagaland Ram Madhav assured “election for solution”.
NTC said that during his visit to Nagaland on December 1,2015 Modi had promised that Naga issue will be resolved within 18 months.
However, seven (7) years passed and now NDPP and BJP agreed on seat sharing on 40:20 basis for the ensuing election. NTC, therefore, called on the prime minister to exhibit ‘political will’ and call on negotiating parties to enter into a mutual agreement before the assembly election in 2023.
NGBF asks Nadda to deliver on BJP poll promise in 2018
Nagaland Gaon Buras Federation (NGBF) has appealed to the BJP national president JP Nadda to honour his party’s “election for solution” commitment that was made ahead of 2018 assembly elections.
In a letter to BJP president JP Nadda, the NGBF president Sahleem Konyak and general secretary Shikuto Zalipu pointed out that assembly elections of Nagaland in 2018 had taken place without any hindrances because of the assurance on “election for solution” given by BJP in-charge Nagaland Ram Madhav.
NGBF noted that the term of the present assembly would expire by March 2023 and that it expected that “the commitment given by the BJP would be honoured without fail.” The federation also claimed that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi had already committed that what was possible would be done. Therefore, NGBF said that “whatsoever, agreed and settled as on October 31, 2019 has to be translated into an agreement and enforced with immediate effect.”
It asserted that the elections should be conducted only for the legally constituted legislature of Nagaland as per the settlement reached.
According to NGBF, the Government of India has agreed that “all pending matters would be resolved through democratic process after the political solution is settled so far.” The federation also assured Nadda of “a peaceful and congenial environment for transition.”
