KOHIMA, Dec 17 ? Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has re-introduced the Naga Integration Bill in the Nagaland Assembly Session Tuesday for resolution. The Naga Integration Bill had been passed thrice by this same Assembly in the past. And the current one, if passed, will be the fourth one.
Moving for resolution of the integration of the Naga contiguous areas on the opening day of the Nagaland Assembly Session, the Democratic Alliance of Nagaland Government, Chief Minister informed the House that the ?aspirations? of the Naga people for the ?integration of the Naga areas adjoining the State of Nagaland? was expressed through the resolution adopted by the Naga People?s Convention (NPC) at Mokokchung (a district of Nagaland) in 1959. The same (resolution) was also included in the 16-Point Agreement signed by the NPC and the Government of India in 1960. Rio said the Assembly had ?unanimously resolved? urging the Government of India? for the integration of the Naga areas adjoining the State of Nagaland on December 12, 1964, August 28, 1970 and September 16, 1994.
Reasserting the strong desire of the Naga people to ?come together? through ?integration of all contiguous Naga inhabited areas,? the Chief Minister reiterated its earlier ?stand? and urged the Government of India to bring the Naga people living in the State of Nagaland and the contiguous areas by integrating them ?under one administrative unit.? Former Nagaland Chief Minister and President of the Nagaland Congress Pradesh Committee (NPCC), SC Jamir, while talking to journalists on Monday, said they had already passed three Bills in Nagaland Assembly with regard to the integration of Nagas. ?Therefore, this one will be the fourth one and now this also does not succeed, then it would be a mockery,? he added.
Passing of the resolution will be taken up on December 18 and the re-introduction of the Naga Integration Bill in the current session of Nagaland Assembly assumes significant in the backdrop of the ongoing political parleys between the Government of India and the NSCN (IM). The NSCN (IM) had recently made a statement in Bangkok that the integration of Naga contiguous areas ?is non-negotiable.?