The Nagaland Tribes Council (NTC) has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to implement the signed Indo-Naga political agreements at the earliest, saying the prolonged delay in reaching a final political settlement has adversely affected the state’s development and public confidence.
In a representation submitted through the Governor of Nagaland, NTC president C. Pankathung Lotha and general secretary C. Onen Walling said it has been 29 years since the peace process began between Naga political groups and the Government of India with the objective of achieving a final political solution.
The council noted that the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) signed the Framework Agreement with the Centre on August 3, 2015, while the Working Committee of the Naga National Political Groups signed the Agreed Position on November 17, 2017.
According to the NTC, what now remains is the implementation of the agreements, which it said reflects the aspirations of the Naga people. It also recalled that the Prime Minister had earlier assured that a final political solution would be delivered within 18 months and had described the long-standing political issue as resolved.
The council maintained that since no Naga political group has officially withdrawn from the agreements, all parties remain bound by them. It further stated that the Nagaland government has also expressed its willingness to accept the political agreements signed between the Centre and the two Naga negotiating groups.
Referring to developments during the peace process, the NTC said that former Governor and interlocutor R. N. Ravi had informed the Nagaland Legislative Assembly on October 31, 2019, that all negotiations on the Indo-Naga political issue had been completed.
The council said it is now the responsibility of the Government of India to bring the nearly century-old political issue to a conclusion without further delay. It claimed that the prolonged stalemate has negatively affected the state’s economy, infrastructure, education, employment and overall development.
The NTC also alleged that successive overground and underground political leaders had neglected the state’s interests in pursuit of political power, leading to growing public dissatisfaction. It claimed that the political, economic and social situation in Nagaland had deteriorated significantly and alleged that the unresolved political issue had become a means of political and commercial gain for some leaders.
The council further expressed concern that the continued delay in resolving the issue could create instability in the state. It warned that if the political impasse continued, there was a risk of unrest similar to that witnessed in neighbouring Manipur.
Appealing for immediate action, the NTC urged the Government of India to expedite the implementation of the Indo-Naga political agreements in the interest of the Naga people. It also stated that if the appeal remained unaddressed and any untoward incident occurred, it would hold the Centre responsible.
