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Kohima, Oct 15 (IANS) The ruling People’s Democratic Alliance (PDA), the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP)-led multi-party alliance, on Wednesday lauded the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led central government for its continuous support and commitment for the all-round development of Nagaland.
An important meeting of PDA called by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio was held in Kohima on Wednesday.
A resolution was unanimously passed at the meeting, which said, “The House called upon the Government of India and the negotiating parties in the Indo-Naga peace process to take serious steps to take the ongoing negotiations to their logical conclusion. The House urged that the agreement should be negotiated in a manner that is respectful, inclusive and acceptable to the people.”
The resolution also warmly welcomed the decision of the Naga People’s Front (NPF) to officially join the PDA and resolved to accept the NPF as a full partner of the alliance.
“The House expressed its appreciation to the central leadership of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for its guidance, support and positive decision in support of the inclusion of NPF as a partner of the PDA,” the resolution said.
The meeting was attended by Nagaland Deputy Chief Minister and BJP Legislature Party leader Yanthungo Patton, Nagaland BJP President Benjamin Yepthomi, NDPP General Secretary Abu Metha, NDPP Senior Vice President, Rusemtong Longkumer, MLA and General Secretary, NPF Achumbemo Kikon and President, NPF Oppong Pongner.
Meanwhile, the Political Affairs Committee (PAC) of the Nagaland government recently urged the Center to elevate the Naga peace talks to the highest political level by appointing a political or ministerial level interlocutor with the confidence and mandate of the government.
A Nagaland government spokesperson had earlier said that the PAC headed by Chief Minister Rio has decided to resume peace talks at the political level to expedite the negotiation process. The meeting was attended by Deputy Chief Ministers TR Zeliang and Yanthungo Patton, other ministers, members of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, advisors to the Chief Minister and other ministers and MLAs.
He said the PAC also reiterated the resolutions adopted during the consultative meeting held in Kohima on September 12, 2024, with the participation of all stakeholders including tribal Hohos, civil society representatives, people-based organizations, church bodies, NGOs, gazetted officers, unions, student bodies and political parties.
The spokesperson said the PAC commended the negotiating parties, including the Government of India and Naga political groups, in the ongoing Naga Political Dialogue for upholding the principles of the ceasefire agreements and ensuring that there are no breakdowns in the talks despite facing numerous challenges and obstacles over the last two decades.
AK Mishra, advisor to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on North-East Affairs, has so far held several talks with various Naga groups, including the Isak-Muivah faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN-IM).
Former Nagaland Governor RN Ravi was a negotiator in the Naga peace talks before taking charge as the Governor of Tamil Nadu in September 2021. The central government has been holding political talks with the NSCN-IM and other Naga groups since the signing of the ceasefire agreement in 1997, and also signed the Important Framework Agreement in 2015. The government also entered into parallel talks with the Working Committee of Naga National Political Groups. (NNPG), an amalgamation of at least seven Naga clans in 2017.
They signed the Agreed Position in November 2017, and the NSCN-IM has stuck to its demand for a separate flag and constitution for the Nagas, as well as integration of the Naga-inhabited areas spread across four northeastern states – Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur and Nagaland, apart from Myanmar. These demands were rejected by the government on several occasions.
–IANS
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