Kohima, January 29: NPF President and former senior DAN Minister Dr Shurhozelie said the problem in "Nagaland is national problem" and further cautioned that it had the potential to become an "international problem" one day.

Talking to NEPS here at his official residence on Tuesday, the former Planning and Urban Development Minister regretted that even after 60 years of Indian Independence, the Government of India was yet to realize that the Naga problem was a "national problem." "They (Indian government) take it as a local problem," he rued adding, "They should first acknowledge the problem (Naga issue) as a national problem".

Explaining further, Dr Shurhozelie stated they were neighbors to mighty nations like China and further cautioned that the Naga problem had the potential to become an "international problem" one day.

"We don't want the Naga issue to reach to that category," he averred.

"We still hope that the Indian Government realizes this reality sooner than later." He, however, lamented that while the masters in Delhi worked towards finding settlement to the Naga issue, their agencies were working here otherwise.

Asked what differences he felt about the coming general elections than what they had in five years ago (2003), the NPF chief recalled about the last general elections saying they were not in the House last time due to non-participation in the 1998 general elections.

"Therefore we faced a lot of difficulty, when the other side used too much money," he said.

"Otherwise, we had everything at our disposal as the publics were with us".

But this time they (Congress) were going to fight as opposition as such they may not be able to use money as much as they used last time, he pointed out.

"This is the difference," he said.

"For us we remain the same".

Stating that their prime objective was political issue, Dr Shurhozelie said the Congress people, in the past, talked too much about the settlement of the Naga political problem.

"But on our part, we said the state government can only act as a mediator".

Reiterating their continued support to the ongoing peace process, the veteran regionalist said when the underground people were divided, the Government of India would find difficulty in entering into any settlement including piecemeal method as such arrangement would not bring any permanent settlement.

"So we continued to work for a permanent settlement to the Naga political problem," he added.

"So we appealed to the wisdom of the underground friends to understand this".

With regard to the reconciliation initiated by some people, Dr Shurhozelie opined that it was a very good step but in the beginning proper consultation was not done.

That was how people were critical about it, he explained adding, a proper consultation amongst underground groups was need and that was what the "Naga people want".

* The writer can be contacted at oken_jeet(at)yahoo(dot)com .

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