DIMAPUR, JULY 31: President of Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC), K Therie on Sunday said that the coming election in Nagaland would be a referendum for the people between the issues of “settlement or no settlement” and “secular government or government thriving on religious divide”.
In a statement, Therie said the July 16, 2022 resolution taken by the Parliamentary Committee of the UDA as the people’s resolution had finally understood the aspirations of the stakeholders for settlement to the agreements between Government of India and the negotiating teams.
However, neither the Core Committee nor the allied partners submitted the resolutions on the Naga political issue to the Centre like they did in the past and “instead of pursuing the resolution for settlement, it has shocking the Seat Sharing Agreement was flashed in the media.”
The July 16, resolution which gave hope of settlement was thrown to the dustbin, he stated.
Therie further stated settlement of the Agreements would benefit both Nagaland and Nagas outside Nagaland. For Nagaland, the political structures would be improved by way of delimitation of Rajya Sabha, Lok Sabha, State Assembly and creation of Upper House, he said adding Nagas outside Nagaland would have gained Territorial Autonomous Councils under Schedule VI with direct funding in the manner of States and UTs through Finance Commission Award.
He said to this effect, the Constitution was amended mandating the Finance Commission (FC) to recommend devolution of funds in 2019. The amendment has also transferred 30 Departments to the Councils sharing powers of State. Resettlement scheme for all Naga National Workers and Economic package for development were also in the pipeline.
He said because of this, Congress had decided to support the Agreements and it is surely an improvement.
“It is sad we are missing the opportunity once again and this time roadblock to settlement is the people’s govt”, Therie added.
(Page News Service)
