Union Home Minister Amit Shah landed in Dimapur today and inaugurated development projects spread across Nagaland worth Rs 52 crore. However, Shah was greeted with slogans on banners by volunteers under the aegis of Nagaland People’s Action Committee (NPAC) making an impatient plea to the Central government, the Home Minister and the Prime Minister that the people of the state want solution to the Naga problem.
Some of the slogans on the banners read “Give us solution, not election” and “Naga political talk cannot be indefinite,” asking the Home Minister to deliver the solution.
Political Solution before Assembly Election: NPAC to Shah
The Nagaland People’s Action Committee (NPAC) has demanded for “political solution before election” in a joint representation addressed to the Union Home Minister, Amit Shah, who arrived in Nagaland today on a whirlwind tour.
NPAC is an umbrella organization of several civil society organizations including Nagaland GB Federation (NGBF), Against Corruption and Unabated Taxation (ACAUT), Central Nagaland Tribes Council (CNTC), Senior Citizens Association Nagaland (SCAN), Ex-Parliamentarians Association of Nagaland (Ex-PAN), Confederation of Nagaland Chamber of Commerce & Industry (CNCCI), and Nagaland Tribes Council (NTC).
While welcoming the Home Minister to Nagaland, NPAC stated in the joint representation that the former’s “physical presence in our land bears much significance.”
It was stated in the joint representation that the political negotiations between the Government of India and the two Naga negotiating groups, namely, NSCN-IM and Working Committee, 7NNPGs have now reached its 26th year.
“The elongated negotiations have had immense toll on the life and economy of the people of Nagaland specifically,” the representation read.
The representation also stated that several memorandums and representations to the Prime Minister of India in particular during the last few years were submitted, urging him to resolve the issue without delay. “Yet, uncertainty looms large till date despite the official negotiations being concluded in October, 2019,” it added.
The representation also read, “The pacification of the public by the then BJP General Secretary In-charge of Nagaland that ‘election is for solution’ in 2018 seems to become a damp squib as the term of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly is about to end without solution.”
Along with the representation, the NPAC leaders also enclosed a copy of their last representation written to the Prime Minister of India stating that the issue is the same, and that they “continue to uphold the languages and the expressions contained in the said document.”
“We have lost our faith in the democratic process and therefore strongly demand Political Solution before the election,” NPAC wrote in their representation to Shah.
Assuring their “utmost cooperation towards implementation of the solution,” NPAC further urged the Government of India to decide “whether the negotiations are brought to its logical conclusion in a solution or call it a fiasco as the indecision does not benefit any party.”
Shah takes jibe at UPA government
Shah, in the typical BJP style pointed out how during NDA 2014-2023, there has been a four-fold increase in the fund allocation for Nagaland as compared to UPA 2004-2010.
He also stated how the 15th Finance Commission has allocated 4,773 crore rupees for Nagaland while back in 2009 only 1,283 crore rupees was allocated for Nagaland.
Shah then went on to list the number of schemes and projects the NDA government has implemented through which people benefitted.
Amit Shah highlights feats of Modi Government in Nagaland:
Special package of Rs. 219 crore allocated for Nagaland in 2021-22
74% reduction in insurgency as compared to 2014 to 2021
60% decrease of the martyrdom of Armed forces
84% reduction in the ambush of ordinary citizens
AFSPA repealing process gradually started
After 100 years, Nagaland received its 2nd Railway Station
15 National Highways inaugurated in Nagaland worth Rs.2127 cr running over 266 kms
2.18 lakh families benefitted through Jal Jeevan Mission
3 lakh people benefitted in Nagaland under the aegis of Ayushman Bharat
54,636 families benefitted under PMAY
2 lakh farmers benefited under the aegis of PMKSN
Approximately 4,157 km wide roads worth Rs.1,180 crore made under PMGSY