Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) president, K. Therie has said that the Congress does not agree to violence as means to solve the decades old Naga political problem.
Therie said striking NSCN (K) in the border when talks just began with six NNPGs after almost a two decade wait did not go well and appealed both NSCN (K) and Government of India to adopt non-violence as medium to solve the problem. He also appealed GoI also learn from the 16 Point Agreement. He said non-violence is the policy of Congress to solve the problems. “60 years of violence have inflicted more injury in the blood of Nagas. With Hindutva policy, Nagas are more cautious today,” he added.
He also reminded that only few NNC and FGN did not agree to statehood– demanding total sovereignty, which gained the support of the people more than Statehood did.
He also recalled that Pt Jawaharlal Nehru, recognising the feelings of the people, decided to talk with NNC/FGN and signed the ceasefire agreement on Sept. 6, 1964. “Although people are participating in the state elections, the people still feel there is a need to solve the political problem amicably,” he said.
On the other hand, Therie also stated that people were not happy with Naga national groups because of extortion that led to domination wars, wherein people have lost thousands of lives. The People are also watching them from side eye view, he said.
Therie said factional wars have cooled down because GoI and state government had compromised at the cost of public economy.
“GoI deliberately did not plan to fund peace. They may have thought burdening the people with multiple taxes would twist the minds of the people from the political movement. This will not work because the movement is based on inherent culture, customs and religion,’ he added.
“We are participating in the Federal Government of India because of special provisions and protection we have under the Constitution. Maintaining that peaceful talks was the only option to achieve solution, Therie recalled the words of the chief minister that- “Broad consultation, should mean inclusiveness of all.”