The Rising People’s Party (RPP) has strongly criticized the ongoing peace talks, stating that the “only tangible result of 28 years of peace-talks is to reduce the Naga political issue to a Law And Order situation.”
In a statement, the party pointed out that the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP)-led government has styled itself as a ‘facilitator’ in the negotiations, though “both the Government of India (GoI) and the various Naga Political Groups (NPGs) are not even acutely aware of their ‘facilitating’ activities.”
The RPP expressed concern over the stalemate in the peace process and the proliferation of factions, which currently stand at 28. The party stressed that “this stalemate and the mushrooming of factions… cannot go on indefinitely.”
Asserting that the NPGs “had their chance to settle the Naga issue,” the RPP declared that it is “ridiculous to imagine that the GoI will conclude any meaningful agreement with the NPGs” at this stage. Given the lack of progress, the party has proposed that the 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) take the lead in peace talks, arguing that the NDPP’s role as a facilitator “should be bygone.”
According to the RPP, “the NLA is the mandated body of the people, and it’s only natural and logical that the NLA empower itself to negotiate a settlement, as per the points highlighted in the ‘Framework Agreement’ and the ‘Agreed Position.’” The party urged the current negotiators to step aside and allow the NLA to convince the GoI.
Another rationale behind the RPP’s proposal is to “thwart the accusation raised from various quarters that the NDPP-led government is actually impeding solution despite its public grandstanding.”
The party further criticized the state government’s stance, describing the much-touted ‘opposition-less government’ as “basically a byword for money laundering.”
Acknowledging that its proposal may spark controversy, the RPP asserted that “a generational shift in outlook and policy making is required for lasting peace to hold.”