Speech of opposition leader on Naga Political Issue

Kohimam 3rd August , 2021

SPEECH OF THE LEADER OF OPPOSITION, SH. TR ZELIANG ON NAGA POLITICAL ISSUE DURING THE 8TH SESSION OF THE 13TH NLA (AUGUST 3, 2021)

Speaker Sir, I rise to participate in the discussion on Naga Political Issue.

As we are all aware that, the ceasefire Agreement was signed between Government of India and NSCN in 1997 and since then 24 years have elapsed on negotiations at various levels and in one more year, it will be a Silver Jubilee. Today the 3rd of August marks the completion of 6 years since the Framework Agreement was signed between the NSCN (IM) and the Govt. of India.

Also the Agreed Position which is almost 4 years since it was signed on November 17, 2017. These developments have created high hopes of a settlement to the vexed Naga Political Issue and also for permanent peace in our land. Speaker Sir, I feel it is high time for all the Nagas particularly the 60 elected Members to pursue the matter vigorously for a peaceful settlement as desired by the Nagas and Govt. Of India

However, looking at the current stalemate in the negotiations between the Naga Political Groups and the Government of India for final inking of an Accord, it is of great concern and worry, that should talks breakdown at this juncture after so much has been done and achieved all through these years, it is the people who would bear the brunt of it and ultimately drag us backwards while the rest of the world progresses ahead in time.

The stand and wish of the NPF Party in particular and the Naga people in general, has always been for the various splintered Naga Political Groups to reconcile and come together for common cause as this will help leverage in the negotiations with the Govt. of India. With this spirit we have been working to reason and bring all the Groups to come and sit across the table. Case in point, the Govt. of India was in negotiations with only the NSCN group led by Isak and Muivah, and subsequently signed the Framework Agreement on August 3, 2015.

Seeing that other groups were not taken aboard, I had personally intervened and requested the Interlocutor and other Central leaders to invite them for official talks. This did not go without hurdle as the Government of India as well as Isak Swu and Th. Muivah had to be convinced for this endeavour. Fortunately, after much persuasion, both sides agreed and the Naga National Political Groups (NNPGs) Working Committee (WC), which then consisted of 6 groups, were officially invited for talks leading to the signing of the Agreed Position on November 17, 2017.Also with regard to the NSCN (Niki Group), we welcome them for coming back to Nagaland and revisiting the ceasefire agreement which was abrogated earlier.

We have been consistent in our approach that for resolution of the Naga Political issue, every strata of the Naga Society should be taken into confidence to attain the ultimate goal of permanent peace in our land. The animosity prevalent amongst the various Naga Political Groups, apparently resulting from past events, will stand as the greatest stumbling block for the Nagas, particularly the younger generation. Socrates said “The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the New”. In our Naga society today, this is relevant and we should give a thought on why we are focusing all our energy on the past which in the process is blinding us of the present and what the future holds.

Speaker Sir, when the NPF walked out of the JLF on Naga Political issue in 2020 due to the fact that JLF was not making much positive progress, there was a resounding chorus to withdraw our decision and come together under the banner of JLF. Even the Central leaders took note of this development and subsequently, I along with the Hon’ble Leader of the House met the Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah on October 20, 2020 at New Delhi on his invitation. He told us then, that a proposal was sent to NSCN-IM 10 days back but NSCN-IM had rejected the proposal and so LOP and CM should meet and convince them to be practical for an amicable solution. We met Th. Muivah on separate occasions and conveyed the messaged accordingly.

Following the Meeting with HM Shri Amit Shah, a Joint Press Conference was held on November 5, 2020 at the Assembly Conference Hall and also a Joint Press Release on the Naga Political Issue was issued on December 18, 2020 appreciating each other’s initiative. Also the NPF Party had proposed that a Parliamentary Committee should be constituted with all Hon’ble Elected representatives and the two Members of Parliament as members and within it, to set up a Core Committee with lesser members for effective and better coordination with the Hon’ble CM as the Chairman.

Today, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to the Hon’ble Leader of the House for accepting our proposal and despite some negative commentaries being passed against the newly constituted Committee; I hope and believe that we will rise above Political Party colours and continue to work wholeheartedly for early realisation of our goal. And given that under the initiative of NPF PAM, both the Naga Negotiating groups (NSCN-IM) and 7 NNPGs WC have agreed to meet across the table however it has not been materialised so far.

Today with the formation of the Parliamentary Committee, it is the right platform to invite them to come together over dinner or lunch for better understanding between the two groups. If both the parties could arrive at mutual understanding, there is no reason why two parallel talks with two interlocutors should continue, which may further divide the Nagas rather than solving the issue.

On the issue of the apparent sour relationship between the NSCN (IM) and Shri R.N.Ravi Interlocutor, we fail to understand why they keep blaming each other on some of the contents of competency clauses. Also neither the Interlocutor nor the NSCN (IM) has been forthcoming about the contents of the clauses to the public. This has further created more confusion in our midst. Nevertheless, as I have stated during the last session, our stand is not to judge who is right or who is wrong but to stand for what is right for the Nagas. We only want that differences are hammered out at the earliest through proper dialogue so that things would materialise.

The NPF Party having had the privilege to lead an Opposition-less Government during DAN-III, 2014-2018, and having witnessed the immense stride that could be achieved in Unity among the Legislators endorsed the concept of an Opposition-less Government even this time. While there are many who are sceptical of the NPF Party intentions, we have time and again made it amply clear that we do not have any hidden agenda nor are we doing so out of desperation to be in the treasury bench: the only reason and purpose is to help facilitate the Naga Political Issue.

Let us not lose ourselves on trivial matters like questioning on who proposed the concept but rather look into the bigger picture and wholeheartedly work together as one. The concept of Opposition-less Government should not be for cheap political gains but rather to strengthen the progress of the negotiations and also to fulfil the aspirations of the Naga People. And for the information of the Hon’ble Members and the public, until the formalities for an Opposition-less government is completed, the NPF Members would continue to maintain status quo ante and I will remain Leader of Opposition. There has been so much confusion in the minds of the public lately, so I felt this needs to be cleared on the floor of the House.

When the NPF Party walked out of JLF, there were murmurs and insinuations that when even the elected members cannot be united, it is a farfetched idea to ask the Naga Political Groups to come together. Well today, I would like to state that we have not only come together under the banner of Parliamentary Committee on Naga Political Issue but are also willing to put aside our political differences and endorse an Opposition-less Government in the interest of the Naga People and its political struggle. We the elected representative should not shy away from spelling out the facts of the matter and strive with conviction to help unite the various Naga Political Groups. On their part, the various Naga Political Groups should also seriously consider and accept the fact that unity amongst them will bring forth manifold positive results and lead them to a common meeting ground.

As stated above, the two major milestones, the signing of the Framework Agreement on August 3, 2015 and the Agreed Position on November 17, 2017, should not be left to idle out without reaching a logical conclusion. Today is the right time to impress upon the top leaders of the Country to resolve the Naga Political Issue. Further delays will only result in losing steam and ultimately these two important events may fail to reach the desired destination of the Nagas.

Hon’ble Speaker Sir, and all my esteem colleagues, let us not be disheartened by stray comments and pessimistic views shared from various quarters but rather continue to work in cohesion with our sole aim to attain our desired goal. Let us also hope that the BJP let NDA Government at the Centre would stand true to the slogan of the BJP Party of the State during 2018 election “Election for Solution”. The Hon’ble Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah has shown great political will-power to resolve the Naga Issue unlike their predecessors.

The Hon’ble Prime Minister in his address on the 3rd of August during the signing of the Framework Agreement remarked that during his visit to Nagaland in December 2014, he met all the tribal organisations and Student leaders and all of them wanted Naga Solution under his leadership. He further went on to say that, the Chief Minister and Speaker of Nagaland came with huge delegation and met him in Delhi and expressed their desire to resolve Naga issue with trust in his leadership and as such we are here this evening for signing political agreement for peace and progress of the Nagas.

In another significant occasion in Dubai, days after the Framework Agreement was signed, Hon’ble PM made a mention of Nagaland and rightly pointed out and I quote - “I am citing Nagaland because I want to tell people across the World, including the youth, that however complicated a problem might be, it can be solved through dialogue.” The spirit of dialogue to resolve our problem should not be replaced with other means. Formal talks have been going on for so many years and it should continue and it should be everyone’s responsibility to see to it that the current deadlock should be broken so that talks are resumed for an amicable solution at the earliest.

Also this House may like to appeal to both the negotiating parties, the Govt. of India and Naga Negotiating Groups, to stick to what has been agreed upon on 31st October 2019 as claimed by both the negotiating parties that the talk has completed successfully. Whoever deviates from what has been agreed is against the wish of the people. As for us the Hon’ble members of this August House, as I have said yesterday in the parliamentary committee meeting, “If you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem”. So let us all with utmost sincerity, be part of the solution in every little ways that we can do as facilitators.

I support the motion moved by Shri. Neiba Kronu, Minister Planning & Coordination and Parl. Affairs.