Mokokchung, 12 December (MTNews): Following the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s Statehood, former Nagaland Minister K Therie voiced concerns over the potential threat to Article 371(A). While acknowledging the nation’s positive response to the reinstatement, Therie noted that the judgment of the Supreme Court endorsing the removal of Article 370 could pose a risk to Article 371(A) as well. He expressed unease about the action of the Government of India (GOI) as part of the Uniform Civil Code implementation.
Therie highlighted his optimism regarding an agreement between the Naga National Political Groups (NNPGs) and GoI concerning oil and natural resources. “I was hoping if implemented, the State would have full autonomy over oil and mineral resources,” he stated.
However, he lamented that the political climate, particularly with the BJP Government at the center, has slowed the progress of political solution. Referring to the removal of RN Ravi, the former Interlocutor and Governor of Nagaland, Therie said that his dismissal was due to “speeding up the implementation of the agreed political solutions.” Since then, no new interlocutor has been appointed, leaving a void in the negotiation process, he said.
“Thereafter, GOI did not even appoint an interlocutor because there was no more work. In the 2023 election, the people of Nagaland gave a mandate that endorsed Shri Ravi’s removal. GoI is no longer under any threat or pressure from either Naga National Workers or from the NDPP and BJP Alliance Govt. As such, hope of implementation of the agreed solutions is like chasing the wind,” Therie stated.
Highlighting the prolonged struggle between the Nagaland State Government and GOI over oil and mineral resources, Therie emphasized that the dispute, rooted in conflicting interpretations of Article 371(A), has persisted for over two decades. The lack of resolution has resulted in the continued deprivation of revenue from oil and natural gas exploration for the people of Nagaland, he noted.
Therie drew attention to the commitment made by AICC President, Mallikarjun Kharge, on February 22, 2023, assuring that the Congress would uphold Article 371(A) and, if given the opportunity, implement agreed political solutions. In contrast, he noted Congress’s demand for an open statement from the BJP to uphold Art. 371(A) has gone unanswered.
“In the given situation, the way forward is for the Government of Nagaland and Naga National Workers to collectively work together to achieve the goal. In my view, the shortest route to achieve this may be implementation of the agreed political solutions,” he added.