Naga tribal bodies, civil society demand solution not polls

Tribal organisations, civil society and pressure groups in Nagaland today resolved to continue their demand for "solution not election" and approach the political parties in the state not to contest the February 27 assembly polls.
The decision was taken in the wake of the growing demand for solution to the vexed Naga political issue before the assembly elections during a meeting held here which was attended by the 19 organisations including the tribal bodies, civil society, women groups and students.
The meeting resolved that Naga people will stand firm on the demand for "solution before election" and also approach all the political parties in the state to create consensus on the common voice.

Five political parties -- Congress, National Democratic Peoples' Party, JD(U), NCP and Nagaland Congress -- attended the meeting and expressed their willingness to the decision.
The tribal organisations resolved to approach the ruling Naga People's Front (NPF) and its ally BJP with an appeal to accept the resolution and not to contest the election till there is a solution.
The Naga organisations while endorsing the December 15, 2017 Assembly resolution appealing to the Centre to arrive at "solution before the elections", has urged upon the ruling parties to honour and uphold the same and to walk the talk.

They also decided to send collective representation of all the civil societies and tribal organisations in the state to the Election Commission to reconsider the decision to hold elections in Nagaland.

The Naga bodies also expressed resentment over the January 22 statement of BJP leader Ram Madav, in charge of northeast, on "election for solution of Naga issue".
They have also constituted a core committee comprising the 13 civil society groups and presidents of all the tribal bodies to come out with final decision on whether to boycott or allow the conduct of the impending state poll before a solution to the Naga issue.
Emphasising the need to include all the Naga nationalist political groups in the ongoing dialogue for a solution, they urged both the Centre and the NSCN-K for resumption of the snapped ceasefire while appealing to the Union government to lift the terrorist organisation status against the Khaplang faction of NSCN.

The resolutions were read out by Theja Therieh, a member of the standing committee constituted on January 22 for the conduct of today's consultative meeting.