Legislators urge all to rise above tribalism for accelerating Naga peace process
Source: Hueiyen News Service / NNN
Kohima, July 24 2015 :
Discussions on protracted Naga political issue continued on the third day of the 9th session of 12th Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA).
Chief Minister TR Zeliang had earlier stated that the Naga political issue had dominated the political discourse during the last six decades and the "innermost desire" of the Nagas was to bring about a final and peaceful solution to the issue.
Elected members who participated in Friday's deliberation spoke on the necessity of accelerating the Naga peace process in the State by putting forth a solution which would be "honourable and acceptable to all." They have urged all to rise above tribalism and party lines by making positive contributions.
TR Zeliang expressed his gratitude to all the Members of the House for their enthusiastic and spirited participation in the deliberation and for airing their views.
It may be recalled that Nagaland Legislators' Forum for Naga Political Issue and a 23-member Nagaland Parliamentary Working Committee of the forum had been constituted recently.
Zeliang said that significant with this, significant steps have been taken towards the sole objective of facilitating an early resolution of the Naga political issue.
He appealed to all the "Naga nationalist groups" to unite for the common Naga cause and appealed all to let the concept of unity and inclusiveness be the overriding principle in the Naga society and "over-ground or under-ground politics" so that unity could be brought about between the Nagas.
The Chief Minister welcomed the initiatives taken by the Interlocutor to the Naga political dialogue, RN Ravi, in consulting various sections and Naga organizations including the State Government as part of the new policy of broad based consultations and inclusive approach towards resolution of the Naga political issue.
Zeliang said the State Government is willing and ready to play a more pro-active role in the Naga Political dialogue and facilitate an early and peaceful resolution.
He however clarified that his government's role was to be a facilitator and not to be a participant in the current political dialogue between Government of India and NSCN (IM) .
NLA Speaker Chotisuh Sazo, who is also the Convenor of the Nagaland Legislators' Forum also highlighted how Nagas had struggled during the course of the struggle for sovereignty.
He reminded how "Naga brothers and sisters were tortured and murdered" and how houses and granaries were burnt down to ashes in the initial period of the struggle.
The Speaker said Disturbed Area Act & AFSPA should be lifted at the earliest.
At the same time, he urged all the "national workers" to reunite in letter and spirit so as to bring about a permanent solution.
A committee was set up to examine the resolutions taken on the Naga Political Issue discussed in the Assembly Sessions and the report of which was to be submitted in the House on July 27.The committee members include PHE Minister Tokheho; School Education Minister Yitachu; Advisor of Treasuries & Accounts TM Lotha; Parliamentary Secretary of Land Resouces Nanglang; Parliamentary Secretary of Land Revenue L Khumo and Parliamentary Secretary of Housing Levi Rengma.
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