Dimapur, September 29 (MExN): The Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) has questioned the Naga People’s Front (NPF)’s clarification on the alleged poaching of opposition councillors and criticised the appointment of a retired civil servant as the new interlocutor for the Indo-Naga political talks. A press release from the NPCC questioned the NPF’s claim that councillors had voluntarily joined or extended support to the party.
“Can a political decision be considered entirely voluntary if opposition councillors are denied development funds for their respective wards?” the NPCC asked. It alleged that opposition councillors had been subjected to political pressure through the withholding of development funds, “leaving them with little choice but to support the ruling establishment to secure development for their constituents.”
The NPCC called upon the government to disclose ward-wise fund allocations and releases to establish whether opposition councillors had been treated fairly. “Development funds belong to the people, not to any political party. They must never become instruments of political bargaining,” it stated.
On the appointment of the new interlocutor, the NPCC said it was issuing the rejoinder in response to what it described as a “misleading public statement” by the NPF regarding the appointment of a retired civil servant to participate in the Naga peace process with the Government of India.
The NPCC said the appointment was contrary to what it described as the “interests and unanimous decision of the Naga people” made during the Consultative Meeting convened by the Government of Nagaland on September 12, 2026. According to the NPCC, the House unanimously resolved and “appealed to the Government of India to elevate the ongoing dialogue and peace process to the highest political level by appointing an interlocutor of political / ministerial level, who has the confidence and mandate of the government.”
“Nothing more or less than this was the decision of the Naga people,” the NPCC stated. It said the “Naga people’s desire to have a trusted political leader or Minister has not been fulfilled; instead, a retired civil servant has been appointed.”
The NPCC further claimed that it was given to understand that the NPF leadership “found itself confused by the words ‘political / ministerial level’ and has therefore welcomed a bureaucratic-level Interlocutor.” “The NPCC considers this disgraceful for the Naga people and contrary to their hope and desire,” it stated.
The Congress maintained that the present stage of the Naga peace process “is not merely a matter of paperwork to be entrusted to a retired civil servant, but a political issue that requires the wisdom and experience of a political leader.”
“The Naga people have therefore insisted upon a political and ministerial-level interlocutor,” it stated. The NPCC urged NPF leaders to “understand the present Naga political situation and recognise the need to address it with political will.”
“We need a political leader, not merely a civil servant, who can bring all stakeholders together again and administer a process leading to a solemn Political Agreement between the Naga people and the Government of India without any further delay,” it stated. The NPCC said the Naga people were awaiting the formal implementation of the Political Agreement between the Naga Political Groups and the Government of India, stating that “the negotiation phase has already been concluded.”
It left it to the NPF leadership “to determine whether they are satisfied or dissatisfied with the appointment of a retired civil servant as Interlocutor.”
