Guwahati: While the Election Commission of India is set to hold assembly polls in Nagaland on February 27, the Naga outfit group NSCN-IM on Tuesday said that it is a serious obstacle towards finding an early Naga political solution and declared imposition of such election is not acceptable to the Naga people.
NSCN-IM cleared their stand after ten days while several Naga groups including Naga Hoho, Eastern Naga People’s Organisation (ENPO), Against Corruption & Unabated Taxes (ACAUT), Nagaland Tribes Council (NTC) and Central Nagaland Tribes Council (CNTC) urged the Union government and the Election Commission of India to defer the election till a final solution come out.
In a statement, the Naga outfit group said that, this statement is given in national interest to inform the Naga people in general on the issue of election in Nagaland.
"We are committed for an early negotiated political settlement that is honorable to both India and the Nagas. The Nagas have sincerely come very close for political solution appreciating the steps taken by the Government of India in seeking political solution and leaving aside military solution," NSCN-IM said in the statement.
"After nearly 5 years of political negotiation in 2002 the Government of India officially recognized the unique history and situation of the Nagas and on August 3, 2015 the Framework Agreement was signed between the NSCN and the Government of India in the presence of the Prime Minister of India. We, therefore, sincerely appreciate the stand and wish of the Naga people for an early political solution and no election'" said in the statement.
The NSCN-IM further said that, the decision taken by the Government of India and the Election Commission of India to hold election is bound to undermine the progress of the ongoing talks between the NSCN and the Government of India and become a serious obstacle towards finding an early political solution.
"We, therefore, reiterate our position for an early political solution that will usher in peace in the whole subcontinent and the Government of India must exercise political will to take steps accordingly. Imposition of such election is not acceptable to the Naga people who are for an early negotiated political settlement. Therefore, those who advocate for the imposed election does not stand for the interest of the Naga people. We are seriously critical with such people or group as they do not contribute towards finding lasting political solution," the Naga outfit group said in the statement.
Recently, Naga Hoho had threatened to boycott the election.
(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)
