Panel on Naga issue to meet PM next week
With the long-expected solution to the Naga political issue now drawing closer to the Nagaland state assembly election scheduled by end of February 2023, the government of India has renewed its efforts to get all Naga Political Groups (NPGs) on board.
Expectations for the long-awaited solution was raised after then government of India’s Interlocutor for Naga Peace Talk, R.N. Ravi announced that over 24 years of negotiations would officially conclude on October 31,2019.
However, that has not happened as the NSCN (I-M) insisted that the Framework Agreement was inclusive of Naga flag and constitution (Yehzabo), but which had been rejected outright by the government of India.
Despite the prolonged delay for solution, union home minister Amit Shah has been urging upon the state government to have all NPGs on board at the earliest for Naga solution.
While legislators maintain they are ready to resign en masse to pave way when solution is arrived; they have however put a rider that this won’t happen if they are elected to the new house.
Though there is still much speculation about likely solution on whether it could be achieved before or after election, the focus has again shifted to New Delhi where the Centre’s representative for Naga political talks A.K. Mishra is meeting with a ten-member NSCN (I-M) delegation and also another delegation from the WC, NNPGs. Interestingly, the state political parties who have formed the all-party Core Committee on Naga Political Issue headed by the chief minister Neiphiu Rio are scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home minister Amit Shah and other leaders next week in Delhi.
On Friday, a 10-member NSCN (I-M) delegation comprising its top leaders held a meeting with Mishra on pertinent issues concerning a final agreement to be inked. Unlike in the past, sources informed Nagaland Post that this time there is a sustained effort to resolve whatever issues so that solution before assembly election is possible.
Sources said that the Government was clear that meetings cannot go off and on perennially as issues raised have to be resolved in a serious and sustained manner even if it takes days or weeks. The government of India has also made known that it is eager to ink an early agreement for one solution with all Naga stakeholders.
On the demand for flag and constitution, the sources said that these could be discussed post solution. As Nagas have been yearning for a final solution, sources said the primary concern for the Centre is to deliver the promise made by the Prime Minister. As reported, Centre has said on numerous occasions that the ball is in the court of the NPGs to agree on one solution acceptable to all, since there cannot be two solutions for one issue.
Meanwhile, a delegation of WC, NNPGs led by its convenor and GPRN/NSCN ato kilonser N. Kitovi Zhimomi have arrived in Delhi. It was learnt that they are scheduled to meet Mishra.
Kohima Correspondent adds: Minister for planning and coordination, land revenue and parliamentary affairs and member secretary of the core committee, Neiba Kronu informed media persons, after the committee’s meeting held on Friday, that the delegation led by chief minister Neiphiu Rio will be leaving for Delhi on May 15 or 16 to meet the Prime Minister and other leaders next week.
Kronu said the meeting was significant since it was held for the first meeting after the state government revised the setup following the merger of 21 NPF legislators with the NDPP.
Kronu said that the members were also briefed by chief minister Neiphiu Rio, deputy CM Y. Patton and UDA chairperson T.R. Zeliang regarding their last meeting with the Prime minister.
At the meeting, it was decided that the committee led by Rio, Y. Patton, TR Zeliang and NPF Legislature Party Leader Kuzholuzo (Azo) Nienu will call on the Prime Minister and other Central leaders next week in connection with the Naga political issue.
Meanwhile, sources informed that the team will also be meeting leaders of the NSCN (I-M) and Working Committee of the NNPGs in Delhi.
If solution is achieved before election, it would likely result in formation of an interim government comprising of Naga political stakeholders.