DIMAPUR, SEP 18 (NPN): Former minister K. Therie has said that imposition of President’s Rule (PR) would be the quickest way to implement the agreements reached on the Naga political issue, asserting that the focus should be on a political solution rather than any personal agenda.
In a statement, Therie referred to the last paragraph of the Framework Agreement (FA), which states that the two sides agreed that “within this framework, agreement details and an execution plan will be worked out and implemented shortly”.
He said the Centre and State government were responsible for working out the details and execution plan in the interest of all stakeholders, within the principles of the FA and Agreed Position.
Therie maintained that the State was a party to the agreements signed with the Government of India (GoI), as both function under one Constitution, but alleged that the State government was behaving like a “third party” without an agenda. “How long is the word ‘shortly’ meant to be in the FA?” he asked.
He questioned the NPF government’s demand for a committee to hold talks, saying the negotiations had concluded six years ago and that the Naga national workers stood by their agreements. He said there was scope to add or delete provisions while working out the details and, therefore, there was no justification for appointing a new interlocutor or committee.
Therie alleged that the reason could be the belief that NSCN (I-M) could help the NPF in elections, claiming this was why the party did not want a solution. He said this was the reason, according to him, people viewed NPF as a “roadblock”.
He also expressed hurt over Rh. Raising’s remarks against former chief minister Dr S.C. Jamir, whom he described as “the tallest living leader of Nagaland”, saying Jamir had no right to speak on a political solution.
Therie criticized NPF secretary general and advisor Achumbemo Kikon for “singing praise” instead of defending the fundamental rights of State citizens and Jamir.
He recalled that Jamir had persuaded former Prime Minister and then AICC president Rajiv Gandhi in 1991 to “offer talks without preconditions”, which, he said, opened the way for negotiated agreements.
Therie claimed that the FA had surrendered the issues of sovereignty and integration and urged Nagas from outside Nagaland to refrain from speaking on behalf of Nagaland and from insulting its leaders and community. “Nagaland people’s hospitality has been taken as weakness for too long. We need to live with mutual respect,” he said.
Addressing Achumbemo, Therie said it was too early for him to “coach” Jamir, and urged him to respect parents and seniors, which he described as a Naga tradition.
He said Kikon’s first duty should be to protect the people of Nagaland and reiterated that the issue was the implementation of the agreements and nothing personal.
Therie alleged that the NPF had, for the past 23 years, defended what he described as lawlessness and delayed implementation through policies of “equi-closeness, active facilitation and inclusiveness”.
He further alleged that the NPF had practically joined the insurgents and was using factions to suppress stakeholders and “corrupt the State government together”.
Therie also alleged that the NPF represented Nagas outside Nagaland more than the people of the State, while asserting that Nagas living outside the State had their own representatives.
He claimed that some members had won elections with the support of NSCN (I-M) on NPF tickets and were satisfied with the situation in their respective States.
Therie further claimed that government of India had rejected the chief minister’s proposal for appointing a new interlocutor for fresh talks, citing the conclusion of negotiations six years ago.
He alleged that the NPF government had stated in its 80th Independence Day speech that a minister-level committee had been constituted, but was now saying that an Apex Committee would hold discussions. “Where is that Apex Committee notification?” he asked, adding that the chief minister was expected to be “consistent and honest” with the people.
Therie said that since the chief minister could not sit with the Prime Minister or Union Home Minister to work out the details, President’s Rule was the quickest way to implement the agreements.
“There is nothing wrong in demanding PR for it is CM and NPF party’s own commitment ‘to pave the way’,” he said.
