Rio bats for interim Government prior to polls
Source: The Sangai Express
New Delhi, August 07, 2012:
All the sixty members of the Nagaland State Assembly held successive meetings today with the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh , former and current Union Home Ministers, P Chidambaram and SK Shinde.
They were also accompanied by the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha member from Nagaland .
The series of meetings come at a crucial time of the peace talks and negotiation process between the Government of India and the NSCN (IM) after 15 long years of ceasefire.
While many several rounds of 'talks' have been held within and outside the country along with interlocutors and Naga traditional bodies / civil societies, the State political establishments' coming out for the first time calling for an "alternative arrangement" is a important turn of events which cannot be simply brushed away.
Addressing the media at Nagaland House later in the day, Chief Minister Nephiu Rio said that all the 60 Naga legislators led by the Speaker of the House, who also is the chairman of the Joint Legislature Forum to apprise the GoI that they sincerely want a solution to the 60 years old Naga problem.
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"We are prepared to sacrifice for any solution to the Naga problem" said the Nagaland Chief Minister in the presence of the 60 MLAs and 2 MPs.
"Fifteen years is long enough for the GoI as well as the underground groups to understand the issues and problems.
This is time for a settlement," said Rio.
The Legislature Forum which was formed in July this year resolved to pave the way for an alternative arrangement, "an interim Government, before State election slated early next year" he told media persons.
Underlining the urgency for a solution an apprehensive Nephui Rio said that unless this matter is taken seriously by the Government of India, the 60 Naga legislators the 60 Naga legislators are not prepared to face the coming State Assembly election.
"We want solution before the election" said Rio, but ruled out presidential rule.
"Whether to defer election or not is in the hands of the Centre.
We cannot question the wisdom of the GoI" he said.
Maintaining that the State Legislative members are 'facilitators' of the ongoing talk process, Rio said that the final agreement is between the GoI and NSCN (IM) The Chief Minister also stated that the Naga people are "fed up" of fighting and violence.
On a more positive note the Nagaland Chief Minister told reporters that " things are happening" He stated that other than factional clashes between the Khaplang and Kitovi Khole otherwise no such cases or incidents arise.
He said that today Nagas are being recognised by the British, the GOI as well as in Myanmar.
"Since we the Nagas cannot come together in one country, there has to be a settlement.
We need to find a solution" said Rio.