Dimapur, May 28 (MExN): The GPRN/NSCN (Neokpao-Alezo) on Thursday accused the Nagaland Government and the Naga People’s Front (NPF) leadership of “persistent insincerity” and “insensitivity” towards the aspirations and political sentiments of the Naga people.
Accordingly, the organisation described recent statements made by the NPF leadership, particularly Chief Minister Dr Neiphiu Rio and Minister G Kaito Aye as “face-saving exercise” exposing the party’s “alarming insensitivity towards the aspiration and political sentiments of the Naga people.”
The explanations are too feeble and unconvincing to obscure the gravity of the issue under the pretext of ‘misinterpretation,’” added a statement issued by Ministry of Information & Publicity (MIP), GPRN/NSCN (Neokpao-Alezo).
To this end, it maintained that Nagaland was founded on “Naga customary institutions and traditions” and asserted that no authority, including the Nagaland Legislative Assembly nor the State Government, should supersede Naga customary laws, practices, and jurisprudence.
The Government should functions within the limitations prescribed by customary institutions and should not dictate terms to tribal bodies and Gaon Buras (GBs), it added.
According to the GPRN/NSCN under the leadership of President Gen (Retd) MB Neokpao Konyak and Ato Kilonser Alezo Venuh, the remarks by the concerned Minister had crossed “acceptable political and constitutional boundaries” and sought NPF’s intervention for withdrawal.
It also criticised the State Government over the reported issuance of a show-cause notice to the NGPF President in 2022 as an “administrative overreach” noting the supremacy of the federation
The GPRN/NSCN (Neokpao-Alezo) also questioned the State Government’s move to involve tribal bodies and the NGBF in discussions on appointing an interlocutor, maintaining that the Government of India had declared the Naga peace talks concluded on October 31, 2019, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi had reportedly assured an inclusive political settlement.
The downgrading of the interlocutor’s status from cabinet rank reflected a decline in the Government of India’s commitment to the peace process, it stated.
Contending that issues relating to legislative structures and competencies had already been substantially settled by October 31, 2019, the GPRN/NSCN (Neokpao-Alezo) asked the present State Government to refrain from deliberately prolonging the political process by pursuing strategies aimed at deferring an accord for electoral or regional considerations.
