1. Speaker Sir, I rise to participate in this special discussion on matter of urgent public importance on the Naga Political Issue. As leader of this August House, I extend my appreciation to the Honourable Speaker for giving the opportunity for this discussion and to my honourable colleague Shri. K. T. Sukhalu for raising the issue. The Indo-Naga political imbroglio has been at the core of Naga society for several decades and remains central in our concerns even today. For this House too, it is at the top of our agenda and in the course of the past four years, the Members of this House have undertaken discussions and deliberations on several occasions within the floor of this House and outside the House. My Government has given utmost importance to the Naga political issue and we have made every possible effort to play the role of active facilitatorin order to create a an atmosphere that is conducive to realisation of an early solution to the protracted Naga political issue.
2. The present State Government in Nagaland has formed an opposition-less United Democratic Front (UDA) Government with the singular motive to facilitate the peace process so that we realise the aspiration of achieving genuine peace though a negotiated political solution that is honourable, acceptable and inclusive.
3. Subsequently, the Parliamentary Committee on Naga Political Issue and the Core Committee were formed on 10th June 2021 comprising of representatives from all political parties represented in the Nagaland Legislative Assembly. All 60 Members of this House rose above our affiliations by setting aside all our differences and we all came under one platform to extend positive support to the political negotiations. The Parliamentary Committee and the Core Committee has held several rounds of discussions, deliberations and consultative meetings with various stakeholders including the Naga national political groups and the representatives of the Government of India.
4. Speaker Sir, I place on record my appreciation to the Members of this House for the extraordinary unity that was displayed by our coming together in common solidarity. I further extend the appreciation of this House to all the stakeholders, leaders and representatives of civil society and tribal hohos and all organisations and individuals who participated in the consultative meetings and collectively supported our common endeavour of pursuing permanent peace. We are grateful to the Government of India for acknowledging the unique history of the Nagas and for recognising the Naga issue as a political issue. I also once again extend the appreciation and acknowledgement of this House for the sacrifices and contributions of the Naga national workers in the course of the Naga political journey and towards the Naga political aspiration for permanent peace.
5. The signing of the Framework Agreement on 3rd August 2015 after over 80 rounds of talks in the presence of the Honourable Prime Minister of India and other high officials and dignitaries of the Union Government was indeed a historic occasion and we continue to extend our support and appreciation towards honouring the agreement. The Agreed Position signed on 17th November 2017 was greatly significant and further strengthened the progress of the negotiations. We reiterate our appreciation to the signatories of both the documents and to the Government of India for exhibiting sincere commitment in our collective efforts to resolve the decades old political imbroglio.
6. On October 15th 2020, the Naga Consultative Meeting on the Naga Political Issue held at the State Banquet Hall, Kohima unanimously resolved, and I quote, “to relentlessly work in a collective and unified manner with one voice so as to facilitate the peace process and strengthen the negotiations for early realisation of the desired One Solution in a transparent manner which is acceptable and honourable”. The resolutions also “appealed to the negotiating groups to come together under a spirit of oneness, mutual trust and understanding with sincerity and commitment towards achieving One Solution for One People as early as possible.” We “affirmed our commitment to continuously work towards a political settlement based on Naga historical and political rights to determine our future on the unique history and position of the Nagas”.
7. It is a matter of great satisfaction that on 14th September, 2022 the national political groups signed the September Joint Accordant under the initiative of the Forum for Naga Reconciliation. The NSCN-IM and the NNPG while acknowledging the “Covenant of Reconciliation (CoR) signed on June 13, 2009 committed to move forward through dialogue and live together in Peace. This is a significant step in the right direction and I extend the appreciation of this House to the signatories of the Joint Accordant and also to the facilitator, the FNR. Such a spirit of understanding and a willingness to live together in peace is definitely the way forward and I am confident that with such oneness, we will be able to reach our desired goal sooner than later.
8. We are all aware that the State Government is not a direct party to the negotiations and we are only playing our role as facilitators. However, our sincerity towards the commitments which we have made in our respective manifestoes still stands. The ruling dispensation and the political parties in the UDA have made it clear in our manifestoes that we will pave the way in the event of a solution that is honourable, acceptable and inclusive.
9. There is an overwhelming cry for a final solution amongst all sections of the people. The present state government and the Parliamentary Committee on Naga Political Issue continues to make efforts, while appealing for early solution, to the extent of supporting such a development even before the elections to the Nagaland Assembly, which are due in early 2023. A political issue that has stretched for several decades and involves the longest standing insurgency of the entire region needs a mature approach. The present ceasefire and talks have been going on for more than two decades, and we feel that itmore than enough time for all sides to understand and appreciate each other in a manner that we are able to reach a desired conclusion by achieving a settlement.
10. On 16th July, 2022, the Parliamentary Committee on Naga Political Issue, in its meeting held at Kohima, adopted a resolution appealing to the negotiating parties to refer to the competencies of the talks and resolve the contentious issues. We welcome and appreciate the resumption of talks between the negotiating parties and we are all hopeful that this latest round of talks will bear positive results. We reiterate our appeal to the negotiating parties and the Government of India to address the contentious issues and undertake discussions on the competencies so that the talks can be expedited and a solution can be reached at the earliest possible.This August House is united in our common aspiration for achieving lasting peace and I place on record my deepest appreciation to each and every Member for rising above all differences in unitedly working under the flatform of the Parliamentary Committee on Naga Political Issue and the Core Committee on the Naga Political Issue. As facilitators, we will continue to put forward our best efforts within the given possibilities for a final solution and genuine peace.
11. Speaker Sir, Nagas have been impacted for decades by the political conflict and the unresolved Indo-Naga political issue. Generations of our youth have faced untold hurdles in striving towards their aspirations or have failed to achieve their ambitions, due to the challenges of the political movement. The desire for genuine peace in now greater than ever before. The masses are crying out for resolution of the problem, so that, our people too, can strive towards progress along with the rest of the global community. The inherent talents and genius of the Naga people deserve to be given the opportunity to achieve excellence and success. The leaders of today’s Naga society cannot afford to let the present and future generations inherit the continuation of conflict and violence. We owe it to them to come together under a spirit of collective oneness and resolve this imbroglio, so that, we too, can rise as a people and positively contribute to the nation building process and towards the better good of humanity.
12. Speaker Sir, before I conclude, I would like to take this opportunity to express my personal gratitude to you for your commendable leadership in leading this House. Despite being a first time Member of this House, you have displayed maturity and provided exemplary guidance as Speaker of this House. I am sure all the Honourable Members of this House will agree with me that you have positively contributed towards the high standards of democratic decorum that this House represents. I also place on record our appreciation to the Honourable Deputy Speaker Shri. T. Yangseo, for carrying out his responsibilities in an appreciable manner. I extend my sincere gratefulness to all my colleagues and the Honourable Members for making positive contributions towards the success of this 13th House within the floor and outside. The cooperation and support extended to my Government and my leadership by all the Members have been the foundation behind the successful initiatives we have carried out in this tenure. I will remain ever grateful to all my Honourable colleagues. We are indeed privileged that we are members of an August House that represents the voice of the people and symbolises the strong democratic foundations of the country as a temple of democracy. The Nagaland Legislative Assembly has stood firm through the test of time and the floor of this August House has well and truly been a House of the people. Over the past decades, members who have stood on this floor have served the Naga people with committed distinction, irrespective of affiliation. In this present House too, the Members have carried out their responsibilities in exemplary fashion. As we approach the close of our tenure, I extend my best wishes to my colleagues in your future endeavours, and God willing, we will meet again as we continue to pursue our endeavour to serve the people. I also thank the Assembly Secretariat and all the staff who have performed their responsibilities and in assisting us is our works in an excellent manner. My appreciation goes to the Chief Secretary, the Director General of Police and the entire government machinery making all sessions of this House a success.
13. In conclusion, I once again sound the appeal of this House to all sections of Naga society and to the negotiating parties of the political dialogue to rise above all else, so that we work in unison for the common good of all Nagas. Let us unite as one Naga family and let us all put our best possible efforts towards achieving a solution that is honourable, inclusive and acceptable, and thereby begin a new era of peace, progress and development, wherein Nagas increase our contributions towards the forward march of this great nation.
(Atuzo, Takumpula & Morotsung)
