A group of senior leaders from Nagaland, cutting across politics, administration and civil society, on Wednesday raised serious concerns over the prolonged delay in resolving the Naga political issue, despite the signing of two key political agreements with the Government of India several years ago.
Around 24 former legislators, ministers, bureaucrats and intellectuals met at the farmhouse residence of veteran Naga leader and former chief minister and governor Dr. S. C. Jamir in Dimapur, where a press conference was later addressed.
Briefing the media, Dr. Jamir said the meeting focused on the urgent need for an early political solution, describing Nagaland as “a wounded person groaning in pain” despite the people’s long-standing desire for peace and stability. He pointed out that the political issue should have been resolved long ago following the signing of the Framework Agreement with NSCN (I-M) on August 3, 2015, and the Agreed Position with the Working Committee of NNPGs on November 17, 2017.
Dr. Jamir alleged that the solution had been pushed to the backburner due to what he described as delaying tactics by NSCN (I-M), even though other Naga Political Groups had committed to the agreements they signed. He recalled that there was no dissent when the agreements were signed and that the occasion was marked by celebrations in the presence of the Prime Minister, Union Home Minister, Naga leaders and top officials.
Stating that a “ready-made political framework” already exists, Dr. Jamir questioned how long the agreements would remain unimplemented. He said the elders deliberated on when the Government of India and concerned authorities would finally act, stressing that the Framework Agreement and Agreed Position cannot be kept in “cold storage” indefinitely. He also said the agreements clearly ruled out sovereignty and integration and that not every clause needed to be incorporated into the Constitution.
Convener K. Therie said the meeting was held in view of the prevailing uncertainty, noting that despite talks being declared complete years ago, “no solution has become the solution” for all stakeholders. He highlighted the plight of educated unemployed youth, saying thousands were suffering due to the delay. Therie urged the Nagaland Joint Christian Forum to help safeguard the future of the younger generation.
Former Nagaland Legislative Assembly Speaker Z. Lohe accused the Government of India of failing to deliver despite being a major partner in negotiations, while retired commissioner and secretary K. K. Sema described the situation of educated youth as critical and called the state government’s Political Affairs Committee a “time-wasting exercise.”
The meeting resolved to continue pressing the Centre, the state government and the Ceasefire Monitoring Group for early implementation of the agreements, with more such consultations planned in the coming days.
