NEW DELHI, June 25 – The UPA Government’s stand on maintaining territorial integrity of North-Eastern States threatens to snowball into a major controversy with the Naga organisations hardening their stand on the issue. A delegation of three prominent Naga bodies including Naga Students’ Federation, Naga Mothers’ Association and Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights today conveyed to Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh that the issue of unification of Naga areas was non-negotiable.
“Whatever be the outcome of the peace negotiations, integration of all Naga areas will remain non-negotiable as far as the aspirations of the Naga people are concerned,” the three organisations said in a joint statement after their meeting with the Prime Minister. Naga delegation is currently touring the capital to press on the new UPA Government to expedite the resolution of the Naga problem. Yesterday the delegation called on UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and today met the Prime Minister to discuss the ongoing Naga peace process.
The delegation has impressed on the Central leaders that integration of all Naga-inhabited areas would continue to be a ‘non-negotiable’ issue irrespective of the outcome of the ongoing peace talks between the Centre and Naga militant outfits. In a joint statement, they said any statements or interventions made against the ongoing political talks are contradictory and anti-peace process.
The three bodies resented the UPA Common Minimum Programme (CMP) and its ‘deliberate negligence and refusal to make any reference’ to the peace process. However, they expressed the hope that the government would work towards achieving a meaningful and acceptable political solution to the Naga peace issue.
They also sought repeal of the Armed Forces (Special) Powers Act and withdrawal of the Disturbed Area Act. The delegation included Y Vikheho Swu, Convenar of Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights, Khesheli Z Chishi, president of Naga Mothers’ Association and Achumbemo Kikon, president of the Naga Students’ Federation.