Nagaland: Rally urges Centre to resolve Indo-Naga issue soon

Dimapur: A stakeholders’ rally, named the Naga Common Platform (NCP), for a solution to the Naga political issue at the Agri Expo site in Nagaland's Chumoukedima on Tuesday resolved to urge the Government of India to deliver a political settlement based on the Framework Agreement and the Agreed Position for lasting peace in Naga areas.

The Centre signed the Framework Agreement with the NSCN (IM) in 2015 and the Agreed Position with the Working Committee of the Naga National Political Groups in 2017.

The Nagaland Gaonbura Federation Peace Committee, along with Naga apex civil society organisations, organised the rally.

Adopting a three-point resolution, the NCP unanimously resolved to support the landmark agreements signed with the NSCN (IM) and the Working Committee of the Naga National Political Groups.

It said a century of political struggle or 28 years of political negotiation is a heavy burden on peace-loving people.

“We strongly urge the Naga negotiators and the Government of India to listen to the cry of the stakeholders and collectively bring the talks to their logical conclusion with a comprehensive agreement,” the resolution read.

Hundreds of people attended the rally with placards reading: “Settle Naga political issue for posterity”, “Resolve the Naga political issue based on the Framework Agreement and the Agreed Position”, “Stop ignoring Naga political issue”, etc.

Meanwhile, addressing the rally, KK Sema, spokesperson of the Nagaland Senior Citizens Forum and former IAS officer, clarified that the common platform is not intended to challenge any society.

He further said the Naga problem cannot remain unresolved forever, with the ‘national tax’ imposed by Naga groups destroying the livelihood of common people who earn their daily bread through hard work.

“We are here to tell the government to resolve the Naga issue soon for peace and for the sake of our children,” Sema stressed.

“We honestly want peace for our children’s future,” he added.

Shikuto Zalipu, convener of the organising committee, wondered why the government has still not given a solution to the Naga people despite signing the agreement 10 years ago.