Party says political/ministerial-level interlocutor was unanimously sought in 2024
The Naga People’s Front (NPF) has endorsed the appointment of the new Interlocutor for the Indo-Naga political talks, saying the development is in line with the resolution adopted at the Consultative Meeting convened by the Government of Nagaland on September 12, 2024.
In a press rejoinder to the Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) issued on Tuesday, the NPF said the 2024 meeting had “unanimously appealed to the Government of India to appoint an Interlocutor at the political/ministerial level with the confidence and mandate of the Government.”
The NPF said it “not only respects but fully endorses and stands by the sentiments expressed in the resolution” and “unequivocally supports the unanimous demand for a political/ministerial level Interlocutor.”
The party further said it hoped that the appointment of the new Interlocutor, along with the inclusion of “a Union Minister or a group of Union Ministers in the negotiation framework”, would “pave the way for meaningful political engagement and expedite an early settlement to the long-standing Naga political issue.”
Calling the development “significant and encouraging”, the NPF said it “fulfils, in letter and spirit,” the September 12, 2024 resolution adopted by Naga civil societies, churches, student bodies, intellectuals and all elected members, including the two MPs.
On the NPCC’s position, the NPF said its contention was “in a way, against the unanimous resolution adopted on September 12, 2024, of which the NPCC was also a part.”
The NPF alleged that this showed the NPCC’s “insincerity towards the protracted Naga political issue” and accused it of “trying to derail the process by opposing the appointment of the present Interlocutor and attempting to fish in troubled waters to keep the peace process at bay.”
The party also recalled the earlier stages of the Naga political process, stating that it was under the regime of Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao that a ceasefire was brought about between Naga national workers and the Government of India.
It further referred to the signing of the Framework Agreement in 2015 and the Agreed Position in 2017 under the NDA governments led by then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, respectively, saying these developments took the peace process “to a higher political level.”
The NPF said it believed that “an exchange of words will serve no purpose” and that what was more important for the Naga people was “unity and collective resolve to bring the long-pending political process to a logical conclusion.”
“The Naga political issue requires collective effort and sincere support from all sections, including all political parties, including the NPCC,” it said.
The party maintained that “this is a time to facilitate the process with unity and understanding, rather than creating confusion.”
The NPF reiterated its “firm commitment” to continue working for “an early, honourable, inclusive, acceptable and lasting political settlement for the Nagas.”
