The Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN -IM) on Monday held an ‘intensive consultative meeting with indigenous communities from Dimasa Kacharis, Mech Kacharis, Garos and Gorkhas of Nagalim’ at Singrijan village local ground, Dimapur and thoroughly briefed them on the current ongoing political scenario in view of the Framework Agreement.
Sources revealed the group was led by Hukavi Yepthomi and Anthony Shimray, along with several steering committee members, kilonsers and deputy kilonsers.
The leaders also briefed the meet on ‘the beauty of Framework Agreement that encompass the legitimate rights and safeguard the historical rights of the Nagas’, sources added
Yepthomi and Shimray had been tirelessly reaching out to the Naga people ‘on the line of changed political situations following signing the Framework Agreement between the Naga leaders and the Government of India’.
The meeting unanimously decided to support the Framework Agreement for earliest solution before holding of Assembly election in Nagaland.
Meanwhile, a clamour for a permanent solution to the vexed Naga issue before the polls in the State is getting louder day by day.
A day after Nagaland Tribal Council (NTC), Central Nagaland Tribal Council (CNTC), Nagaland GB Federation (NGBF) and Against Corruption and Unabated Taxation (ACAUT) wrote separate memorandums to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking postponement of polls, now Naga Hoho, Eastern Nagaland People’s Organization, Western Sumi Hoho, Naga Mothers’ Association and Indigenous Minority Tribes of Nagaland have joined the bandwagon.
In a memorandum, Naga Hoho president, P Chuba Ozukum and general secretary, Mutsikhoyu Yhobu stated when Modi had assumed office in 2014, he had set an 18-month deadline to settle the Naga political issue. But now almost three years had elapsed without any tangible solution being found, it pointed out.
While calling for postponement of the Assembly polls, Naga Hoho also referred to a host of factors to validate its demand.
In a separate memorandum to Union Home Minister, Rajnath Singh, the Eastern Nagaland People’s Organization, which represents six Naga tribes of Chang, Khiamniungan, Konyak, Phom, Sangtam and Yimchunger of eastern Nagaland, too called for postponing the 2018 election.
On the other hand, asserting it firmly supported the stand of Central Nagaland Tribal Council (CNTC) and various other organisations seeking postponement of Assembly elections, Western Sumi Hoho appealed to the Government of India to postpone the elections so that a final solution to the vexed Naga political issue could be arrived at the earliest “without any hindrance”.
A press release issued by WSH president, Zheshito Swu and general secretary, Vikato K Achumi said holding Assembly election at this ‘crucial moment when solution was at the door’ would be one ‘golden opportunity missed for the Nagas’ that might never come again.
The Naga Mothers’ Association (NMA), in a representation, has urged the Prime Minister for an early solution to Naga political issue and postponement of the impending State Assembly election.
They said the aspirations of Naga women for peace and a solution to the prolonged Naga political issue lies at the heart and home of every Naga mother, wife, sister and daughter, who lost thousands of their loved ones to the Naga cause of freedom.
The Indigenous Minority Tribes of Nagaland (IMTN) through its president, K Lun Tungnung, has also appealed to the Government of India to defer the upcoming State Assembly elections.
IMTN is a conglomeration of the Indigenous aboriginal recognized tribes of Nagaland namely the Kuki, Kachari, Garo and Mikir/Karbi.