Working Committee of the Naga National Political Groups (WC, NNPGs) hoped that the Central government would complete signing of the Naga peace agreement in 2024 itself, so that Nagaland and Naga areas of other states could also take part in the Vision 2047 of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Extending warm wishes to Naga people on the fifth year of successful completion of the Indo-Naga peace talks, WC, NNPGs in a statement said when it entered the peace process, the Centre had the hangover of negotiations and agreements made with NSCN (I-M), which was never disclosed. The committee claimed that the central government was interested only to listen to its demands and close the chapter as a foregone conclusion.
However, the statement mentioned that the calculations of the central government India went off¬-track as the proceedings began.
The gravity and in-depth analysis of the political conflict added a new dimension and impetus to the peace talks, with the preliminary rounds of negotiations leading to a standing agreement on November 17, 2017 that abided both the entities to the people, political considerations and governing principles for a negotiated political solution.
Claiming that the central government recognised the historical and political rights of the Nagas to self-determine their future in consonance with their distinct identity, the WC, NNPGs said the two entities had agreed to work out the details of a relationship that was honourable, enduring and inclusive with due regard to contemporary political realities.
According to the statement, the Agreed Position had the status of an inter-governmental agreement as the Working Committee had signed with the designation as head of federal government with RN Ravi, who held a cabinet rank in the central government.
The WC, NNPGs claimed that the political solution clearly separated the power of legislation between the central government and Nagas, adding that the legislative system for Nagaland demarcated as a separate geopolitical entity for 17 Naga tribes would have a bicameral legislature with the existing democratic system rechristened as Legacy Hoho.
The upper house would be known as the Nagaland Federal Hoho representing Naga traditional and customary system, thus empowering the Nagas to legislate the subjects falling under Naga customs, practices and procedures, land and all natural resources and endowments in their own way.
These legislative fields would be vacated by Indian parliament. The Naga national insignia, along with the flag, would be the highlight of Naga federal system.
Stating that the political solution fully recognised Naga identity with a separate page in Indian passport and separate contingent of Nagas in all international events, the committee disclosed that the Nagas would have a position in all national and international bodies of the central government and an enhanced representation in both houses of parliament.
The strength of Legacy Hoho would be increased from the existing 60 to 80 legislators.
The WC, NNPGs mentioned that the political solution would bring a new fiscal management regime and economic system that would cover the lapses and lags of the past 13 plan periods. With a well devised programme, the backward areas would be brought to a balanced level of infrastructure and growth within a transitory period of three years.
Institutional growth with centres of healthcare, higher education, technology development and integrated communication systems would bring Nagaland to the forefront of states within the first plan period itself after the settlement. The village system would be engineered to transform into self-sustain revenue generating local self-governments, transforming to be a major employer as with any urban township elsewhere.
The committee said the cadres and revolutionary leaders would have their respective spaces and positioning, which would create a new harmonious and investor-friendly business climate.