NPF commits a blunder: NNPG snubs Oppn party advising it not to 'sell' reconciliation "in the market"

NNPG underlines - "Reconciliation among elected members is important before preaching reconciliations" to others.

 

New Delhi: Amid slow progress in Naga peace parleys despite hiccups and challenges, a major difference has surfaced between umbrella organisation of seven underground groups NNPG and state's opposition party Naga people's Front (NPF). 

The NPF's announcement that NNPG and NSCN (IM) would sit together for a 'reconciliation' process has been reacted with a royal snub by the NNPG, which said rather acidly said that reconciliation cannot be sold "in the market".

"This is no time for outsmarting each other nor go selling reconciliation in the market. This is not the time to draw political mileage either,” a statement from the NNPG Working Committee said.

The conglomeration further said any effort to push NSCN(IM)'s Framework Agreement with the Government of India as the basis for 'reconciliation' was not acceptable. “…if this idea of reconciliation was still the criteria, it would be a mockery, an insult to the very theme of Naga reconciliation. ......Reconciliation must benefit all Nagas and not serve the purpose and objective of one group".

The strong statement from NNPG comes just a day after NPF issued a statement claiming that - "Both the NSCN (IM) and the 7 NNPGs have agreed in principle to come together and discuss across the table as proposed by NPF in separate meetings with both the groups". 

NNPGs is taken aback by the statement of NPF, said the conglomeration headed by N Kitovi Zhimomi as the convener.   

Actually, the NPF should have focused on making conciliatory efforts only and avoided issuing a media statement.

But there is definitely one-upmanship involved between Shurhozelie-TR Zeliang duo and the incumbent Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio. In effect, it could be argued that NPF's patch up formula for all Naga militant groups should have been taken by the state government - where importantly BJP is a partner along with NNDP.

But the Rio regime has apparently burnt its fingers by confronting the Governor and peace interlocutor R N Ravi. In the meantime, NPF has walked out of the Joint Legislature Forum of all elected members of the state assembly which was aimed at trying to ensure 'consensus' between different Naga militant factions.

NNPG is thus right when it says - "Reconciliation among elected members is important before preaching reconciliations" to others.

The NPF party has experienced leaders - two former Chief Ministers Shurhozelie and T R Zeliang - and thus it is a case of lost opportunity as of now for the principal opposition party in the state. 

Of course, issuing a statement in the media by NPF leadership remains a mystery as the leaders are matured enough to know that things are complex and sensitive and should be handled with some amount of diplomacy.

In this context, apparently, NPF has also committed mistakes like the NNDP or the incumbent Chief Minister Rio.

Trying to give an iota of impression that they could end up siding one group - and in this case NSCN(IM) - was certainly erroneous. The NNDP leadership has done so while confronting the Governor vis-a-vis the problems with NSCN(IM).

The NNDP-BJP regime should have been on same page with the Governor !

Now also, the NPF leadership has put much of the eggs in the NSCN(IM) basket. Why otherwise, the NNPG leaders should be furious and declare it in writing that "Reconciliation must benefit all Nagas and not serve the purpose and objective of one group".

The real conflicts of interest between NSCN(IM) and NNPG would come in power-share formula though things are too early.

There have been some disputes over Intanki reserve forest. In September there were certain inputs to the Government of India from intelligence wings that Intanki forest was being debated.

It was given to understand that a section of NSCN IM has tried to link Intanki to 'peace discussions' but the Government officials said no division or change of boundary would be allowed for Peren or any other regions in Nagaland state. 

T R Zeliang should have appreciated certain ground realities. A section of BJP central leaders have in the past as well favoured Zeliang and thus the NPF leadership should be 'more careful' when they take up issues or discuss things with Naga militant groups - both sides NNPG and NSCN (IM).

In the same context, they should be more careful while issuing any press statement.