Ruling Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) has hit out at the opposition NPF for alleging that it has been “instigating Nagas” to accept solution regardless of whether separate Naga flag and constitution . In a statement, NDPP Media & Communication Committee, termed the NPF’s allegations as “absurd and ridiculous” adding they were “irresponsible utterances” and “absolutely reprehensible” coming from a matured political party like the NPF.
NDPP pointed out that it including its party government are not parties to the ongoing dialogue as talks have always been left to the negotiating parties for working out a “mutually acceptable formula, that is honourable, democratic and long-lasting.”
NDPP said on its part, it has been making all out efforts to act as an active facilitator and cited the continuous deliberations between the chief minister, members of the cabinet and elected members including consultations with all sections of stakeholders. NDPP also said it has been holding consultations with members of the PDA coalition and that it (NDPP) had never shied away from shouldering its responsibilities in any manner.
Further, NDPP said the official party delegation led by the chief minister and party president had called on the governor to deliberate on the prevailing political scenario and also assured the Interlocutor of the party’s support for talks and for an early and honourable solution. NDPP also said PDA leaders led by the chief minister and NDPP leaders have been holding consultations with negotiating parties and representatives of the government of India for finding ways to create a congenial atmosphere for positive progress of the talks.
Instead, NDPP asked what has the NPF done, besides issuing “venomous press statements filled with personalised attacks?”Asking if it was not time to put Naga political issue above everything, NDPP advised NPF to “wake up the these realities.”
Further, NDPP reminded that demands of negotiating parties have been clearly spelt out to the people and neither it nor PDA and state government were directly part of the ongoing negotiations. Therefore, NDPP said there was no question of any of the above, “giving conditions or suggestions on the competencies of the solution.”
Asking NPF, which claimed it was a mature political party not to confuse the minds of the people with “ its habitual lies and false convictions”, NDPP reiterated its support for the principle of the Framework Agreement and an early resolution of the decades-old Naga political issue in any manner that was honourable and democratic and which respects the “unique history of Nagas.”
As the Naga political issue was above all, NDPP said NPF should stop “ its habitual lying leaders” by refraining from using the issue in order to score “cheap political points”. Instead, NDPP said all sections of Naga society should work collectively in order to achieve an early and honourable political solution. It asked why NPF had “suddenly woken up from its slumber and making such political statements by immorally using the Naga political issue for its selfish purposes?”
Urging NPF to stop using the issue of political brownie points over a crucial matter for Nagas and all future generations, NDPP asked NPF instead, to come forward with a positive attitude “without their baggage of ill-will and vested interests.” It also made a clarion call on all Nagas to continue upholding the ongoing negotiations through prayers as talks have now reached an extremely crucial stage that will determine the future of Naga generations.