UNC pins hope on Narendra Modi led Govt
Time to clinch a final solution: Gaidon
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, January 07 2018:
The United Naga Council (UNC), the apex body of Nagas in Manipur, is confident that a final solution to the protracted political dialogue going on between the Government of India and NSCN-IM can be achieved within the tenure of the incumbent NDA Government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Talking to The Sangai Express exclusively, UNC president Gaidon Kamei remarked that the political dialogue has been going on for years and added that it achieved a significant milestone when the previous UPA Government led by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh acknowledged the uniqueness of Naga history, Gaidon said.
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With the signing of the Framework Agreement, the incumbent Government headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken the political dialogue to the final stage.
Nagas started articulating their political aspiration since around 1929.Since then, Nagas have fought many formidable forces in the course of which Naga people suffered extremely.
Now a golden opportunity to settle the long drawn struggle is within grasp and no one would like to squander this rare opportunity, said the UNC president.
The Naga issue was 'diagnosed' over a period of 70/80 years and now all stake holders have agreed that it's time for treatment of the vexed issue.
The dialogue process has reached such a stage that there is no need for sending any further invitation for 'over-consultation'.
'Over-consultation' at this stage would only create unnecessary problems, Gaidon asserted.
He went on to ask if the much awaited final solution should be kept at bay just because Khaplang faction of NSCN is not involved in the peace talk.
Negative comments and objections raised by different quarters now whereas nobody raised any objection when the Nagas started articulating their political aspiration as early as 1929 are manifestations of frustration, he remarked.
Exuding confidence that a final settlement will be achieved this time, the UNC president asserted that working out a final settlement demands political will on the part of the Government of India.
"It is the most opportune time for working out a final solution to the protracted dialogue process", Gaidon said.
As indicated by the respective positions of the two parties, mere is no question of the Government of India betraying the Nagas by keeping the much awaited final settlement in abeyance.
If the Government of India fails to clinch a final solution despite the prevailing highly conducive situation, a very ugly situation would unfold not only in Manipur but also in the entire North East, Gaidon said.
Naga issue is a National security issue for India and if the Government of India fails to clinch a final settlement this time, the Nagas as well as the Government of India stand to lose a lot.
Everyone should try to understand the facts rather than allowing apprehensions influence their outlook, Gaidon added.