Drawing attention to the recent statement of former NPCC president K. Therie on the demand by Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organisation (ENPO) for Frontier Nagaland Territory (FNT), Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) has clarified that it reflected Therie’s personal opinion which should in no way be construed as the NPCC’s official position.
In a statement, NPCC reiterated that the demand of the ENPO was genuine and that it was fully in supported the demand. NPCC said it stood for realisation of ENPO demand which arose from a history of serious grievances and a place of drastic trust deficit.
Further NPCC alleged that successive state governments during the last decade or so as well as at the Centre, only managed to widen the dissonance with their complete lack of empathy and abject political mediocrity.
While acknowledging concerns raised by a section of political class in Nagaland regarding the manner and the style of the intervention adopted by Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organisation in the matter, the NPCC admitted a lack of viable platforms available to the latter for escalating their demand within the ambit of conventional democratic norms.
NPCC also said it had time and again underscored the perils of promoting a governance system built on the premises of a plan that did not accord adequate space for the opposition bench, adding that it was one of the major reasons for the ENPO’s current choice of agitation.
NPCC also said all stakeholders had their say and came short with regard to the issue, stressing that the only way forward to ensure a closure that kept the dignity and aspirations of the sisters and brothers from ENPO areas should be one where their voices took the sole and final call.
Further, NPCC implored upon the Central government to accept the demand put forth by ENPO, and refrain from taking any step that was in contravention of the spirit of ENPO resolutions.