KOHIMA, March 8 – Several constituent political parties of Democratic Alliance of Nagaland have expressed serious concern over the NSCN (K)’s recent threats to target at least 17 new legislators elected in the just concluded Nagaland assembly elections. The Deputy Kilonser (Minister) of the NSCN (K), Kughalu Mulatonu told a news agency earlier this week that they would attack the 17 lawmakers---10 from the Nagaland People’s Front (NPF) and 7 from BJP. Mulatonu was quoted as saying “We would like to make it clear to the NPF and BJP legislators not to create problems for us and not to go against the aspirations of the Naga people.”
Expressing shock at the NSCN (K) threats to 17 new legislators Spokesman of Nagaland unit of BJP, Ato Yepthomi told North East Press Service that the BJP had come to Nagaland to resolve Naga political problem and not to create divisions among the Nagas and for that reason, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee had ceasefires with them and political negotiation started. Appealing to NSCN (K) not to misunderstand their party (BJP), the Nagaland BJP Unit spokesman explained that BJP was trying to solve complex Naga political problem not only with one faction but with all and further added that doors were always open for further peaceful negotiations.
“I don’t understand why they (NSCN-K) are serving this kind of threats to the legislators,” NPF Vice President, Pusazo Luruo told North East Press Service. “Rather they (NSCN-K) should work for peace and unity amongst the Nagas.” He said, “Naga people want peace.” Therefore they should give them peace a chance, the NPF leader added.
Although NSCN (K) had threatened legislators only from NPF and BJP, the President of Nagaland Unit of Samata Party, I Nochet Imcha called upon the NSCN (K) leadership not to misunderstand the ground realities prevailing in the State. He said the real issue they had fought for was to find a final and permanent settlement of the Naga political problem.
Although the NSCN (K) might have been apprehensive that the new DAN Ministry would work against them, Imcha explained that such thinking was not true. He also said Samata Party would always work for the solution of the Naga political problem and further added that it (election of DAN legislators) was the people’s verdict “that means people want peace and settlement of the Naga political problem and also unity among them (factions).”
Nagaland DGP, Hesso Mao had already expressed concern at the NSCN(K) threats to the 17 lawmakers of NFF and BJP in the State and stated that he would enhance security of those who were in the hit list of the NSCN(K) after examining the reality of the threat nature. Chairman of the Ceasefire Monitoring Group and Ceasefire Supervisory Board, Lt Gen (retd) RV Kulkarni while talking to North East Press Service also said he would first confirm the authenticity of the NSCN(K) threats and only after that he would take necessary steps as per the Cease Fire Ground Rules(CFGRs).