New Delhi
Former Gujarat Governor and ex-Chief Minister Nagaland, S C Jamir, has congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi for BJP's electoral success in the recent assembly polls but reminded the latter about the pending Naga peace talks.
"As the Chief Minister of your native state, dear Shri Modi, you believed firmly in living up to people's expectations. Today, BJP's growth nationwide and more recently your party's electoral success in the assembly polls is a clear testimony to that.....
I am confident at your level you also understand the importance of bringing an end to the pending Naga political issue. Nagas of Nagaland state in particular and the Nagas in general are keenly looking towards your political leadership," 92-year-old Jamir wrote in a letter to the Prime Minister.
"I will only be repeating myself that before your second term ends -- in fact in next two months - you can take a final call to bring an end to the Naga issue. As someone who joined Naga politics decades back and as someone who has seen so many ups and downs;
I am assuring you, in all my sincerity, your name will be recorded in golden letters in Naga history if a peace pact is inked now," Jamir said.
"The traditional A,B,C belong to you -- that is, the ability to deliver, a balanced approach and the clarity in mind and also the political courage," Jamir wrote. A former Congress leader Jamir has worked closely with all Prime Ministers starting with Jawaharlal Nehru. In fact, he served as Parliamentary Secretary under Nehru in the early 1960s.
During the UPA regime, Jamir served as a Governor of Gujarat for five months in 2009 and is said to have developed good working relations with the state Chief Minister Narendra Modi. In his letter Jamir also complimented Modi for his leadership on the economic front and said, "The GDP growth rate as revealed by recent data displays India's robust economic resilience in these testing times globally. Our fast paced growth will certainly help create more opportunities and improve ‘Ease Of Living’ for our people".
"At this juncture, I will fail in my duty as a senior Naga citizen and political activist if I do not refer to the pending Naga peace talks. The negotiations had started way back in 1997 when I was the Chief Minister of Nagaland and our good friend Late I K Gujral was the Prime Minister. Between the two of us, I have raised and discussed the Naga issue with you and on the course of ongoing negotiations on several occasions.
Your government has taken a number of key, result oriented and determined actions on the matter since 2014...Yet, as you will appreciate the taste of a cake is in its eating; we Nagas are still awaiting a final Solution and Peace Agreement to end the Naga political problem," the veteran Naga leader wrote.
The announcement of Ceasefire and the starting of political talks as invited by the Government of India in 1997 had huge political implications. The Modi government inked Framework Agreement in 2015 with the NSCN-IM and an Agreed Position preliminary pact with NNPG in 2017.
However, further progress in talks got stuck once the demand for Flag and a separate Naga Constitution were raised in 2019 by the NSCN-IM led by influential Tangkhul Naga rebel leader Thuingaleng Muivah.
Tangkhul Nagas have dominating presence in the hills of Manipur. On the other hand, NNPG is led by N Kitovi Zhimomi, a Sema Naga hailing from rural Nagaland state's Zunheboto district.
The NNPG in a recent statement said, true leaders are trusted by their own people and community.
"True leaders must listen to the voice of the people. Mistakes must be admitted and responsibility for failures must be owned. This is a crucial hour for Nagas," it said.
Leaders like S C Jamir, former Speaker of state assembly Z Lohe and ex-IAS officer K K Sema have in the past have flayed 'delay' in finalising a peace pact between Naga rebel groups and the Government of India.
"Emotive issues such as the flag and (Naga) constitution are mere pretext to hoodwink the Nagas. In other words, there was, and is, never a real intent to bring honourable political solutions to the Naga people," stated the umbrella organisation NNPG of Naga militant groups.
ends
Full Text of the Letter from S C Jamir to PM Narendra Modi :
Respected, Prime Minister, Narenrda Modiji,
It gives me immense pleasure to congratulate you, your benign political leadership and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the electoral success in the just held assembly elections in key central and western Indian states of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.
The BJP has also performed well in Telangana showing yet again the pan-India growth and footprints of your developmental works based on the vision of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas'. I have seen you from close range during your stint as the Chief Minister of Gujarat when I was the state Governor for a brief period between July 30, 2009 and Nov 26, 2009.
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| Jamir and blogger |
'Nagaland Page'
I was always fascinated by your pragmatic approach and your commitment to deliver to the people on what you promised. As the Chief Minister of your native state, dear Shri Modi, you believed firmly in living up to people's expectations. Today, BJP's growth nation wide and more recently your party's electoral success in the assembly polls is a clear testimony to that. At the national level, I ought to place on record here your government's leadership in guiding India's economy towards stability and achieving new milestones.
The GDP growth rate as revealed by recent data displays India's robust economic resilience in these testing times globally. Our fast paced growth will certainly help create more opportunities and improve 'Ease Of Living' for our people. At this juncture, I will fail in my duty as a senior Naga citizen and political activist if I do not refer to the pending Naga peace talks. The negotiations had started way back in 1997 when I was the Chief Minister of Nagaland and our good friend Late I K Gujral was the Prime Minister.
Between the two of us, I have raised and discussed the Naga issue with you and on the course of ongoing negotiations on several occasions. Your government has taken a number of key, result oriented and determined actions on the matter since 2014. Yet, as you will appreciate the taste of a cake is in its eating; we Nagas are still awaiting a final Solution and Peace Agreement to end the Naga political problem. Dear Shri Modi, you have come to the end of your second term as India's Prime Minister.
I have always held conviction that only a single minded determined approach from your end can bring an end to the complex Naga issue. The traditional A,B,C belongs to you -- that is, the ability to deliver, a balanced approach and the clarity in mind and also the political courage.
Hence, I will be only repeating myself that before your second term ends -- in fact in next two months - you can take a final call to bring an end to the Naga issue. As someone who joined Naga politics decades back and as someone who has seen so many ups and downs; I am assuring you, in all my sincerity, your name will be recorded in golden letters in Naga history if a peace pact is inked now.
I am confident at your level you also understand the importance of bringing an end to the pending Naga political issue. Several Naga delegations including Gaon Borah Federation and leaders have also impressed upon to bring an earlier Solution.
Nagas of Nagaland state in particular and the Nagas in general are keenly looking towards your political leadership.
The Naga Solution will be a true and well-earned feather in your cap as India's Prime Minister at such a critical juncture of human and our national history of Amritkal. Extending all my good wishes in your administrative and political endeavours.
SC Jamir, Dec 3, 2023
ends
( Nirendra Dev is a New Delhi-based journalist. He is also author of the books ‘The Talking Guns: North East India’, and ‘Modi to Moditva: An Uncensored Truth’. Views expressed are personal)
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