Kohima: The next five years will be very important towards achieving an amicable solution to the Naga Political Problem, Assam Chief Minister and North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) convenor Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma said this on February 23, while campaigning for the BJP-NDDP candidates for the upcoming Nagaland assembly election. Dr Sharma mentioned that a lot of ground had been covered in the Naga peace talks during the several rounds of talks between Naga leaders and the centre. The next five years will be very important towards achieving a solution.
The Assam Chief Minister is playing a crucial role in the ongoing Naga peace talk. Dr Sarma is also the convenor of NEDA, the Northeast version of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). He said several rounds of discussions were held with the Naga groups in the presence of Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio.
“Considerable time and energy has been spent for bringing a solution for the Naga Political problem, and we have covered a lot of ground while the next five years will be very important towards achieving that objective,” the Assam Chief Minister said, addressing an election rally here.
He further mentioned, “We want to have a solution which will respect the uniqueness of Nagas and their history and recognize a strong friendship between the Nagas and people living in the rest of India”.
Sarma asserted that BJP-NDPP would work further towards achieving permanent peace in the coming five years.
To resolve the Nagaland political issue, the centre has been holding separate negotiations with NSCN-IM since 1997. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has led Central Government to expedite the talks for an acceptable solution since 2014.
The Working Committee of Naga National Political Group (NNPG), comprising at least seven groups, has been in talks with the central Government and the mediators appointed by the centre since 2017.
The Narendra Modi Government inked a Framework Agreement with NSCN-IM in 2015 and Agreed Position with NNPGs in 2017. However, the final solution is yet to be attained, with NSCN-IM remaining adamant on its demand for a separate flag and constitution for the Nagas.
Dr Sarma asserted that the NDPP-BJP would form the next Government under Rio’s leadership after the February 27 election. He said there should be no confusion amongst the voters, and Neiphiu Rio will be the next Chief Minister of Nagaland after the March 2 result, and BJP will support the Rio-led BJP- NDDP Government.
