DIMAPUR, June 16 – In the countdown of downsizing of ministry, Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio in his first -ever statement on the issue after his return from the national capital on Tuesday at Kohima said: “It will be inconvenient but we will make it”. “It is not that we will just take 12 ministers and function, but we will take a collective decision and work out a collective strategy for the welfare of the people”, Rio reiterated.
The Chief Minister said that a team of ministers and party leaders led by him had recently met the Central leaders at New Delhi and requested them not to impose the downsizing in Nagaland so that the tribal representation of the people is maintained. “They (Centre) gave us a very positive reply and told us categorically that this will require Constitutional amendment,” he said expressing the hope that “they will amend the Constitution in due course of time”. Rio said that till that time the state would have to implement it.
The Chief Minister was addressing media persons immediately after the meeting of the Consultative Committee for Peace (CCP) at his official residence at Kohima on Tuesday. Rio while informing that the CCP made an assessment of the overall law-and-order situation in the State said, “There is a sharp rise in factional clashes and killings starting from the time of Lok Sabha election to till date.”
Rio, however, without naming anybody passed the blame on others claiming, “With the change in guard at the Centre, certain persons and groups must have got motivated and they want to destroy the hard-earned peaceful atmosphere in the State.” Stating that the State Government was determined to bring back the peaceful atmosphere using all the available forces and machinery. Dwelling on the resolution of the CCP meet, he said that the committee made a fresh appeal to all the Naga underground groups to maintain peace and adhere to the cease-fire ground rules.
The CCP in its fresh appeal asked all the armed groups in Nagaland to maintain peace adhering to the ceasefire ground rules and to go back to their respective designated camps. Apparently referring to Padmanabhaiah as negotiator, the Chief Minister said that people who are already involved in the ongoing peace process should continue in view of their experience and understanding of the issue in order to expedite the dialogue.
Rio asserted that his government would continue to work as facilitator in the ongoing process. “As facilitators, we are prepared to give our statement whenever the Central government asks us,” he said, adding that the sub-committee headed by MLA Vizol was contacting all the underground groups and other organizations. He said that his government was forwarding the report to the Centre. On the demand of the NSCN for sovereignty, Rio replied: “I am nobody to pursue sovereignty or talk of sovereignty. We are trying to play the role of a facilitator and we have no say on sovereignty. But as a state leader, we stand by integration of Naga inhabited areas.”
Replying to a query on abrogation of the cease-fire to stabilize the law-and-order situation, Finance Minister K Therie said: “Our government’s foremost duty is to protect the life and property of the people of the state and we may be forced to send our forces to protect the people if this continues.” Rio told the media persons that the State Government as a facilitator would give suggestions to the ongoing peace process whenever Central Government invited their views.