ACAUT backs final pact call before Assembly polls
Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network

Dimapur, January 07 2018: Against Corruption and Unabated Taxation (ACAUT), the anti-corruption lobby in Nagaland has appealed the Prime Minister of India to defer the 2018 Assembly election in Nagaland and impose President's Rule in the State "in order to facilitate Indo-Naga solution at the earliest" .

In a memorandum sent to Prime Minister Narendra Modi through the Governor of Nagaland, ACAUT stated that it is "deeply appreciative of your sincere desire to resolve the Naga political issue; and as such when the BJP came to power in 2014, the Prime Minister in all sincerity promised to resolve the issue within 18 months".

ACAUT also said that "another of your great personal initiative" was to invite the 6 Naga National Political Groups (NNPGs) for talks in 2017 .

"Thus, while keeping the backdrop in mind, the ACAUT Nagaland, a people's movement against corruption and illegal taxations, though appreciative, is however afraid that the much yearned Naga Solution will continue to elude us if the 2018 State Assembly election is held as scheduled in the month of February/March" .

In its memorandum ACAUT mentioned that election at this juncture with a duly elected Government will consign the peace talks to the backburner for years to come.

According to ACAUT, if elections are held as scheduled, the newly elected MLAs cannot be forced to resign (in the next 5 years) to pave way for a future Interim Government which would be a necessary condition of the settlement package nor the Assembly liable to be dismissed on settlement grounds which would be unconstitutional.

"Thus, if the Election Commission of India (ECI) harps on Constitutionality and is allowed to announce elections, peace will continue to elude the State," ACAUT stated.

ACAUT further said that it is of the "humble opinion" that Prime Minister Modi "removes inordinate hurdles, such as, the soon to be held Assembly elections, in order to allow the Interlocutor to conclude the peace-talks with both the NSCN-IM and the NNPGs at the earliest within 2018" .

As it is, the Indo-Naga peace-talk is into its 21st year and decades of dilly-dallying has destroyed Naga society with the worst affected being the common man which this petition cannot adequately cover, ACAUT further said.

"There exists several 'Governments' in the State and to perpetuate this condition by holding elections at this juncture when solution is around the corner would be extremely unfair.

It would only end hurting the sentiments of the Naga people," ACAUT added.

According to ACAUT, the people have been given to understand that negotiation between India and the parties involved is almost conclusive, if not, to be concluded within the next several months.

This has led the present State Government to opine time and again that election should be deferred in favour of solution, it added.

"Thus, the ACAUT Nagaland would like the Hon'ble Prime Minister to consider our position and defer elections in Nagaland slated for February/March 2018.With the term of the present Assembly ending in March, the Government of India may then recommend the imposition of President's Rule in the State.

It is during the period of President's Rule that your Government should be able to complete the negotiation process with the NNPGs and the NSCN-IM and finally announce a Naga Settlement.

Extraordinary time requires extraordinary leadership; and it is during this period that the BJP Government should be able to initiate much needed developmental activities in the State sorely missing in the last decade or so, thanks to corruption," the ACAUT memorandum also said.

"That Prime Minister Sir, the favourable political climate of this country is the climate that you've created, with you in pole position to settle the Naga issue once and for all.

And you do have the required number in the Lok Sabha to pursue your agenda of peace," it stated.

ACAUT also said that, this is a golden opportunity and an opportune time for both India and Nagas to ink a peace-deal "under your leadership".

But should elections be held in Nagaland for the sake of 'Constitutional process', circumstances will dictate that the yearned Naga solution may never materialize, it added.

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