NPF calls for settlement of Naga issue
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Newmai News Network
Dimapur, June 26 2013:
The Naga Peoples' Front (NPF) today 'calls upon' the government of India to make the offer of political settlement to the Naga people without any further delay.
In its 'Central Executive Council' (CEC) held today in the Nagaland capital Kohima, the NPF said the Indo-Naga political issue remains at the top of the NPF's agenda and the party reiterates its commitment to the people that the Nagaland government will step down anytime from office in the event of realization of a negotiated political settlement that is honourable and acceptable to the people.
"The NPF once again urges upon the government of India to expedite the ongoing political negotiations so that a final settlement is reached at the earliest and the NPF calls upon the government of India to make the offer of political settlement to the Naga people without any further delay," the NPF demanded.
During today's CEC meeting, the NPF said it fully endorses the Naga integration.
"The NPF reiterates its commitement to support the aspiration of the Naga people for integration of all contiguous Naga inhabited areas as it is the desire of the Nagas to live together under one administrative umbrella as members of the same family.
If physucal integration is not immediately possible at present, the NPF urges upon the government of India to extend the protection, privileges and facilities that are given to the state of Nagaland, to all Naga inhabited areas within the Indian union," the Naga party stated.
It can be noted here that the incumbent NPF had demolished its political arch rival the Congress party to the dust by securing 38 seats in the 60 assembly constituencies contested in the February assembly elections in Nagaland.
The Congress had managed to get only 8 seats, the worst ever performance of the party in Nagaland.
In the 2008 elections, the Congress party had secured 24 seats while the NPF rose from 19 seats in 2003 to 26 seats in the 2008 assembly polls and finally swept the 2013 assembly polls by clinching 38 seats.
In today's CEC meeting, the NPF said, "The NPF accepts the mandate of the people with humility while respecting the fact that the 2013 verdict (this year's Nagaland assembly election results) is a vote in favour of the NPF ideology, political approach and development goals enshrined in the NPF manifesto" .