NPGs urged to present unified documents in talks with Centre

September 13, 2024 19 Views No Comment

Morung Express News
Kohima | September 13

A consultative meeting convened by the Nagaland Government brought together a broad spectrum of stakeholders to deliberate on the ongoing Indo-Naga political issue on Thursday.

Addressing media personnel following the meeting, spokesperson for the state government and Power and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, KG Kenye said today’s meeting saw the participation of all stakeholders, including tribal hohos, representatives from civil society, mass-based organisations, church bodies, NGOs, gazetted officers unions, student bodies and political parties.

He informed that after thorough deliberations, the house resolved to appeal to all Naga political groups and national workers to refrain from any further factionalism, the formation of breakaway groups or the creation of new organisations.

During the consultative meeting, the stakeholders voiced out that the Naga political groups having parallel talks with the Government of India should unite and approach with a single document for a solution.

The stakeholders held the view that the two groups holding dialogue with the Centre –NSCN (IM) and Working Committee of Naga National Political Groups (WC, NNPGs) should strive towards having a single document and approach the Centre so that there is no confusion over the solution, Kenye told reporters.

The house, he said, has also unanimously adopted the resolutions of appreciating the negotiating parties, namely the GoI and the Naga Political Groups, of the ongoing Indo-Naga Political dialogue for continuing to hold the principles of the ceasefire agreements, and ensuring that there is no breakdown of the talks despite facing several challenges and hurdles in the past two decades.

It has also appealed to all sections of Naga society to make further efforts towards strengthening unity and oneness in order to bring all stakeholders of the peace process under a spirit of understanding.

“The house agreed that all participants of the meeting will make renewed efforts for unity of Naga society,” he further informed.
Meanwhile, the house has appealed the Government of India to elevate the ongoing dialogue and peace process to the highest political level by appointing an interlocutor of political level/Ministerial level, who has the confidence and mandate of the government.

When enquired, Kenye maintained that it has come together to collaborate and make the best efforts to see that talks are held in earnest and a proper conclusion is drawn.

He said, this time, there was a strong feeling that the talk must pick up again, and that the GoI must come out seriously, and the talks should be elevated to the level of at least, a senior Minister at the Union government’s level by appointing an interlocutor as it used to be.

“Initiatives should be made to pursue and put an end to our long drawn political dialogues” he stated while adding ‘lest the by-products of the unresolved issue will take a heavy toll on both sides.’

Kenye also maintained that since the formation of the Political Affairs Committee (PAC) of the Neiphiu Rio led-government, it was felt necessary to put the Naga political issue before the people on what should be done as nothing has yielded out of the talks between the Naga groups and the Centre so far.

This was the first of such consultative meetings with the stakeholders and more such meetings will be held to deliberate on the two Naga political agreements, he said.

“We are anxious as we cannot keep on waiting for a solution,” said Kenye, adding that during the day’s meeting, stakeholders made several presentations and also submitted many documents, which PAC and the government will take some time to study before the next meeting.