DMK pull-out casts shadow over Naga issue
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Newmai News Network

Dimapur, March 19 2013: With imminent instability looming large over UPA Government at the centre following withdrawal of support by DMK, Naga leaders are closely watching the development with concern as it may affect the ongoing Indo-Naga peace process.

However, some Naga leaders said it doesn't matter even if the UPA government falls as the Nagas are dealing with India and not with any political party.

Naga Hoho general secretary Chuba Ozukum said whenever there is instability of any government at the Centre it affects the Naga peace process.

"We have enough of such experiences in the past too and the same thing is bound to happen if any instability crops up at the centre as we the Nagas are dealing with the government of India," said the Naga Hoho leader.

Naga prominent intellectual Niketu Iralu sharing his views with Newmai News Network this evening on the development said, "If any new development takes place at the Centre we will start with the whole new situation again," adding, "These things have been going on and on with the Nagas for such a long time." Niketu Iralu, however, said the Nagas too need to do their home work.

"Even if a new government comes in, unless the Nagas' side claims a simple common sense and realism needed to get united ourselves, nothing new will happen to us," cautions the Naga intellectual.

President of Naga Students Federation (NSF), Kelhouneizo Yhome shares the views of earlier commentators and said instability of any government at the Centre means disturbing the Indo-Naga peace talks.

He appeals the government of India to settle the Naga political issue at the earliest.

United Naga Council (UNC) president L Adani has different views on the development.

He said that the Nagas are dealing with India and not with a political party.

"So in that case, why should the ongoing Indo-Naga peace talk be affected?" asks L Adani.

He added that Indo-Naga peace process is above the politics of a political party.

Few months prior to the holding of elections to the February 23 Nagaland assembly elections there was a climaxing euphoria among the Naga people that the vexed Naga political issue would be settled before the month of March.

The speculations were fueled by the comment of Union Home minister Sushilkumar Shinde who had said that "settlement" to the Naga issue would be brought about by March, 2013 or before the Nagaland assembly elections.

That situation was even buttered by the concerted show of the now-unheard Joint Legislature Forum (JLF) formed by the 60 MLAs of the Nagaland legislative assembly of the previous tenure to push for the early settlement of the Naga political problem.

The recent expression of senior NSCN-IM functionary Rh Raising speaks volumes about the state of affairs on the ongoing peace talks between the GoI and the Naga outfit.

Rh Raising, executive member of the Steering Committee which is the highest decision making body of the NSCN-IM had stated on March 5 that the Constitution of India has been the road-block to the Indo-Naga political solution.

"Dictated accord or peace is no solution but it is a time bomb.

Imposition of one's will upon the other is the philosophy of tyrants and imperialists," added the senior NSCN-IM leader.

This comment of the senior NSCN-IM leader had come amid the silence maintained by New Delhi on the Naga political issue after the high sounding promises prior to the Nagaland assembly elections.

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