Kohima, September 29 (MExN): The Naga People’s Front (NPF) has rejected former Chief Minister and former Governor Dr SC Jamir’s proposal for imposition of President’s Rule in Nagaland, stating that it “clearly demonstrates an ill motive to suppress our people through Army rule.” A press release from the press bureau, NPF Central Headquarters said such a move would be “an added burden to the already imposed AFSPA.”
The party said it had taken note of Jamir’s statement issued in response to the NPF Secretary General and maintained that differences of opinion in a democracy should be addressed through political reasoning and facts. “In a democracy, divergence of views is natural and welcome. However, such divergence must be addressed through political reasoning and facts, not through personal insinuations,” the NPF stated.
It took exception to Jamir’s description of the Secretary General as working “on behalf of certain masters”, saying the remark “does not address the core issue and detracts from substantive debate.”
The NPF also expressed “serious concern” over Jamir’s reference to the Secretary General’s political learning coming from “Hebron, Manipur or Kohima.”
“Such remarks were made without any factual basis,” the party stated, adding that the “sweeping statement seeks to create a misleading narrative about his political associations and is unbecoming of a person of Dr Jamir’s stature.” The NPF maintained that its Secretary General speaks “with all sincerity on the Naga issue, both inside and outside the House” and “does not require any political learning from any location as alleged by Dr Jamir.”
On the historical references made by Jamir, the NPF said these did not address what it termed the central question of whether President’s Rule was warranted in Nagaland at present. “More importantly, the historical references cited in Dr Jamir’s statement do not answer the central question: whether President’s Rule, as proposed by him, is warranted or justified in Nagaland today,” it stated.
The party said the Naga political issue was “too serious and sensitive to be reduced to a personal exchange.” “It is a genuine aspiration of all sections of the Naga people,” the NPF stated, adding that any settlement “should not become just another Accord or Agreement which is not lasting and acceptable to all Nagas.”
It further said, “any agreement should not become the seed of another problem for the Nagas.” The NPF said the people expected “a mature discussion based on facts and present realities” and reiterated its commitment to “an honourable, inclusive, acceptable and lasting political settlement for the Nagas.”
