'Moral obligation on 60 MLAs to quit," says veteran SC Jamir : "Nagaland will be Nagaland; Manpur will be Manipur"

New Delhi 

Hours before Core Committee members led by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio land in
Delhi for key talks, veteran S C Jamir says it is the 'moral obligation' of the 60
elected legislators to quit and pave the way for an early Solution.
 
People outside Nagaland state should focus on their problems and handle those, he
maintained.

Veteran Naga leader and a longtime protagonist of Indian nationalism, S C Jamir,
also states -  "Since there is no integration of Naga contiguous ourselves, we in Nagaland can sort out all our differences because we are not going to run away from home". 

Jamir in 1990s

"So, for Naga people; at least take care of Nagaland," Jamir told this scribe during his latest trip to Delhi.

He noted that despite political differences between leaders and different parties in Nagaland, one good thing has been "all 60 MLAs have said they are ready to vacate the seats to pave the way for new arrangements".

Answering questions, the seasoned politician said, "It is true we have so many tribes. We can really forge unity and harmony among ourselves. But some outsiders have been creating problems for so many years.

But now integration is no longer there; they should take care of their own problem. But allow us to take care of our own problems exclusively for us".

The harsh reality can be bitter at times, he said adding, "often I have been misinterpreted and misunderstood. But outsiders should not become a burden for Nagaland".

Therefore, in this context, he said - the settlement of the Naga political issue has to come at the earliest.

"So...we come back to....so Nagaland will be Nagaland; Manpur will be Manipur. So there can be no dispute. I have explained these in detail to everyone. We cannot cross Mao Gate, you know the topography". 

He repeatedly said the delay in finalising Naga peace talks is unwarranted. "I have been telling A K Mishra (new peace emissary) that there is hardly any talking point left. And, so, why should we waste time. So, I say, don't expect unanimity....even in Parliament you never have unanimity".

Trying to explain things in a national perspective, Jamir said - some protests and disagreement will be around everywhere.

"At the national level, even Naxalites problems continue."

To a question, he said, "My meetings with both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have been fruitful...they also make it clear, whatever has to be given by the Government of India has been given or already offered".

                                                                   

Jamir maintained all 60 MLAs have said they are ready to "vacate the seats to pave the way for new arrangements".

This was a welcome move, according to him.

"To fortify that one, again they have formed a partyless government. So their moral obligation is to even voluntarily to give up," Jamir maintained adding, "as Naga and as representatives of the people, whatever they say, time has come to demonstrate".

The possibility of resignation by the NDPP-BJP government and elected MLAs has gained political currency in view of recent statements from BJP leader and Deputy Chief Minister Y Patton.

Much to the embarrassment of the NDPP leadership, the newly floated Rising People's Party has also demanded imposition of President's Rule.

In fact, Patton, also a member of the Core Committee has said: "....if can’t find a solution, impose President’s Rule…enough is enough…I am speaking for the Nagas". 

 

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Nagaland deputy CM Y Patton says - “Some big (extremist) leaders do not want solution"

In a video of his speech that has gone viral on social media, Mr. Patton is heard saying: “Some big (extremist) leaders do not want solution. They want to keep relaxing and enjoying the comforts of life with money collected through extortion and taxes.”

The extremist groups in Nagaland run parallel governments, surviving on a range of “taxes” collected from villagers to traders and government employees.

“If this continues, I would say, go to hell. You won’t go to heaven. How can you go to heaven by causing so much hardship to the public? We must come out openly now. It is high time. Enough is enough. There is no other topic,” he said in a departure from the political tradition of playing it safe in Nagaland.

Mr. Patton is a senior leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is a constituent of the United Democratic Alliance government in Nagaland headed by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio’s Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party.