Clarifying that its push for a solution before election should not be misconstrued as anti-constitutional or anti-India, the Core Committee of Nagaland Tribal Hohos and Civil Organisations (CCNTHCO) said it is up to the political parties whether to honour their pledges or not.
All the political parties in Nagaland had signed a joint declaration on January 29 last not to issue tickets to candidates for contesting the upcoming State Assembly elections.
The CCNTHCO, in a statement, said it is not the sole authority with powers to force anyone to refrain, be it a political party or an aspiring election candidate, from participation in the electoral process.
Every Naga is part and parcel of the social and political mess and that none could escape from it, the statement said.
Stating that it is the bounden responsibility for every Naga to voluntarily contribute towards a solution to the Naga political problem and none should hinder the processes of negotiation, the committee said adding the Naga leaders particularly sensible Nagas must never depend on someone else to clean the Nagas’ dirty linen nor should anyone irresponsibly adopt a ‘holier than thou’ posture at the cost of the common man in this venture.
The CCNTHCO views every political party that ruled the country in the last seven decades had always left the onus of solving the Naga political issue on the next government.
“Solution, when arrived at, will be good for Nagas in particular and Government of India in general. We need this solution for peaceful coexistence and for durable peace. And that’s why we implored upon our people to support the collective decisions adopted at different levels,” the statement said.
Showing the political will to resolve the Naga issue the leadership of the country signed the Framework Agreement with NSCN-IM on August 3, 2015 and also signed the preamble for negotiation with Working Committee of Naga National Political Groups (NNPGs) on November 17, 2017, the CCNTHCO pointed out, adding with all the stakeholders actively engaged in negotiations with the Government of India, there was definitely a chance of getting the political issue resolved as all the parties were determined to work out a solution, it added.
The CCNTHCO felt that the need of the hour now is how to collectively and cohesively give the requisite impetus to the processes of negotiations and call for an expeditious logical conclusion.
“And with this very ambition, Nagas from all walks of life had mutually agreed to give priority to a political solution rather than having an election while the process of negotiation was going on,” it said.
If Nagas allowed to conduct India imposed election this time who will respect us who will care about us, the people without principle and maturity, who claim themselves as followers of Jesus but liars, betrayers
, who love more money and power than his/her people and their rights..nagas struggle will become a great mockery before the world and nagas will live shameful life, lost people and slaves of other nations…today is the perfect time nagas must stand together with one voice for our rights and for our nation.