DIMAPUR:
Nagaland minister for higher and technical education, Temjen Imna Along, who is also the state Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president, said that separate Naga flag and constitution is not achievable under the ambit of the Indian constitution.
Participating in the discussion on the Naga political issue in the Assembly on March 22, he said, “Everyone knows that the demand for flag and constitution is not achievable as stated by Union home minister Amit Shah in a meeting with chief minister Neiphiu Rio.”
Along’s statement came a day after the National Socialist Council of Nagalim – Isak Muivah (NSCN-IM) chairman Q Tuccu said that there can be no solution to the Naga issue without a separate Naga flag and constitution.
“The government of India, also being under the Constitution of India, can never agree to anything that is beyond the purview of the Constitution, a demand that is impractical,” he said.
Stressing on the need to make compromises at the negotiating table and come to a common ground for the sake of the people, he asked why a solution could not be achieved after talks on the issue officially concluded on October 31st, 2019.
“Today our people are afraid to speak the truth and the civil societies are divided because of the need to please one or the other group in order to avoid confrontations,” the BJP leader observed.
Along also said 60 elected members of the Assembly represent the aims and aspirations of all the people of Nagaland as a whole and that their role as facilitator is paramount.
Along appealed to the legislators to “speak sense” to the Naga political groups and head for a solution.
Participating in the discussion, Rio appealed to the negotiating parties to come together and arrive at a settlement. “If settlement cannot be achieved, then there should be fresh mandate by the people on how to pursue the Naga political issue,” the chief minister said.
With the government of India recognising it as a political issue and former prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee declaring it as unique issue that can only be resolved through negotiation, Rio said the elected members of the Assembly, other Naga leaders, churches and even the youth need to be included in it. He also reiterated that the issue should be pursued through non-violence.