The Naga People’s Front (NPF) has welcomed the appointment of retired IPS officer and former Chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee Ajit Lal as the new Interlocutor for the Indo-Naga political talks, while questioning Lok Sabha MP and NPCC president S Supongmeren Jamir’s reported description of the appointment as a “disgrace”.
In a statement issued by its Press Bureau, the NPF said the reported move towards elevating the Naga political dialogue to a ministerial or political level was a “significant and encouraging development”.
The party referred to a resolution adopted on September 12, 2024, which it said was attended by Naga civil society organisations, churches and elected representatives, including the two MPs. The NPF said the resolution called on the Government of India to elevate the ongoing dialogue and peace process to the highest political level by appointing an interlocutor with a political or ministerial-level mandate.
The NPF claimed that Jamir was among the signatories to the resolution and said his reported criticism of the new interlocutor was inconsistent with the position reflected in the 2024 document.
The party said renewed political engagement was important to the long-standing Naga political dialogue and expressed hope that Ajit Lal would engage all Naga Political Groups and other stakeholders with sensitivity to the historical and political complexities of the issue.
The NPF further said the objective of all stakeholders should be to facilitate a peaceful, inclusive and enduring political settlement, adding that political differences should not overshadow the broader aspirations and interests of the Naga people.
It also called on political parties to exercise restraint and responsibility in their public statements and contribute towards an environment conducive to peace, reconciliation and development in Nagaland.