Demand for MLAs stepping aside illogical: TR

November 1, 2022 36 Views No Comment

Legislators as facilitators reportedly making impact

Morung Express News
Dimapur | November 1

Chairperson of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), TR Zeliang said that it is “illogical” to ask the members of the 13th Nagaland Legislative Assembly to resign from office at this stage of the Indo-Naga political dialogue. He said that every Naga leader, the political divide notwithstanding, has played their role and “therefore, demanding for proclamation of President’s Rule in Nagaland and urging MLAs to resign for early solution is illogical at this crucial juncture.”

Zeliang, who is also the Co-Convenor of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly’s Core Committee on the Naga Political Issue, made the statement at a press conference in Chümoukedima on October 31.

Instead of “pointing fingers,” he held that now is an opportune time to resolve the protracted Naga issue as all the entities involved in the negotiations with the Government India are together, besides the 60 MLAs. According to him, no other Prime Minister or Home Minister has displayed as much “positive attitude to solve the Naga issue.”

“If we miss this opportunity, I am doubtful that we will be able to maintain this momentum again in the coming years and also for any Indian leader to revisit this chapter with such vigor and concern to solve the Naga Political Issue,” he said.

He further referenced the Joint Accordant of September 14, 2022, between the WC NNPGs and NSCN (IM), facilitated by the Forum for Naga Reconciliation, as another “very positive development,” which was reaffirmed on October 18 at a conclave in Kolkata. According to him, a positive upshot of this has been a noticeable ceasing of “paper wars” between the Naga negotiating groups “which is a big leap towards a better future.”

While stating that the talks between the Government of India (GoI) and NSCN (IM) are progressing positively, he expressed confidence that the GoI would come out with a “Common Draft,” before inking a final deal, which would be brought before the people to see and acknowledge.

By any standard, he said that the negotiation has been long enough and that it must have a logical conclusion. Meanwhile, certain “principle issues” that are under deliberation need to be resolved, he said. He added, “The Core Committee was informed that some competency points are transitional towards final settlement. With such solution formulation process, we can keep moving forward to reach the final agreement as stated by the Prime Minister.”

According to him, the press conference was called to clear public apprehension with regard to the role of elected legislators in the negotiations. In the initial years subsequent to the Ceasefire in July 1997, he recalled that elected members of the Assembly had no active role in the political parleys. He said that the stage for legislators as facilitators was set in 2004 with the formation of the Joint Legislators Forum, which evolved to become the Legislators Forum in 2014 under an “opposition-less government.”

In July 2015, he said that a team of the Legislators’ Forum met the PM and HM in Delhi. It was followed by the signing of the Framework Agreement on August 3, he said.

He further said that the Working Committee had approached him in 2017 informing that “despite having ceasefire agreement with the Government of India, the interlocutor has never invited them for any official talks.”

He followed this up by meeting RN Ravi with a request for officially inviting the WC for talks. “However, he (Ravi) suggested that I should convince Th Muivah and the Collective Leadership of NSCN (IM), then only he can invite them for official talks. Accordingly the very next day, I met Muivah… and requested them, not to stand in the way, if the Interlocutor, RN Ravi invite the WC for talks,” he said.

According to him, it was met with opposition initially but the NSCN (IM) eventually obliged paving the way for the Agreed Position of November 17, 2017. He further cited how the elected legislators facilitated the opening of communication channels when the talks hit rough waters.

Contrary to apprehension, Zeliang said that the effort of the legislators have made impact. He said, “As we have seen in 2015, the positive impact of an Opposition-less government and the weightage we have when we are all together and speak in unison. And today we have come together in order to see that a lasting Peace Accord is signed before 2023 Election.”

Source: https://morungexpress.com/demand-for-mlas-stepping-aside-illogical-tr