Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio on Thursday appealed to the centre to make all out efforts to expeditiously bring about an honourable, acceptable and inclusive settlement of the Indo-Naga political issue considering that it is a 70-year-old issue and the very negotiations for a solution are continuing for around 21 years.
Rio made the appeal while moving for introduction of the People’s Democratic Alliance (PDA) government’s six-point resolution on the last day of the two-day session.
Rio maintained that the PDA government will play the role of active facilitator to the ongoing Naga peace process and the right of the Nagas to live as members of the same family under one administrative umbrella will never be given up.
He appealed to all sections of Nagas to continuously sustain and strengthen unity and peacefully participate in the ongoing negotiations to bring an honourable, acceptable, inclusive and expeditious settlement of the Indo-Naga political issue.
Rio moved for introduction of the resolution after reconstitution of the Joint Legislators’ Forum on the Indo-Naga Political Issue, comprising all the members of the 13th Nagaland Assembly and the two MPs from the state under the chairmanship of Speaker Vikho-o Yhoshu on Tuesday and after threadbare deliberations by the House at its sitting on Thursday.
The chief minister expressed gratitude to all parties to the negotiations, especially the government of India under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, for inking the Framework Agreement on August 3, 2015 and also for the written agreement on November 17, 2017 with the six Naga national political groups.
He also placed on record the government’s deep appreciation for the invaluable sacrifices made by the Nagas over the past seven decades in their effort to bring a settlement of the Indo-Naga Political Issue.
He further appealed to the Naga political groups that have walked away from the negotiation to return to the negotiating table.
Rio reiterated the state Assembly’s earlier resolutions in 1964, 1970, 1994, 2003 and 2015 on the integration of the contiguous Naga-inhabited areas for assuring the Nagas their emotional integration and also affording all Nagas to live under one umbrella.
He further sought continuous and unreserved support from all the members, including the Naga People’s Front led by the Opposition leader T R Zeliang and the two MPs saying “today the nagas are yearning for lasting peace which will pave the way for progress and development.”
Rio stated that the need of the hour is for all sections of the people to come together under the spirit of unity and oneness in order to strengthen the peace process and create an atmosphere that is conducive to make implementation of peace accord successful for ensuring growth and development.
