No integration in FA : Jamir

KOHIMA, Nov 11
Even at 93 (born 1931) veteran Naga politician, former Chief Minister and Governor Dr SC Jamir still speaks with conviction borne out of nearly 70 years of involvement with Naga politics in the erstwhile Naga Hills Tuensang Area (NHTA), a district under Assam.
He is the sole surviving member of the Naga People’s Convention (NPC) that signed the 16 Point Memorandum which was the framework for creation of Nagaland State, with the Government of India under Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in 1960.
When asked about his reported meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi on November 6, Dr Jamir said he wanted to meet Shah since things were not going right in Nagaland due to inordinate delay in securing a solution.
On the delay of solution due to demand for the Flag and Constitution by the NSCN (IM) Jamir said Shah reiterated that the demand by the NSCN (IM) was “not possible or negotiable.”
Jamir said the Flag and Constitution was not contained in the Framework Agreement (FA) signed on August 3, 2015. He said on the other hand, the NNPGs stand by the Agreed Position (AP) signed on November 17, 2017 with the Government of India.
He also said integration does not figure in both the Framework Agreement as well as the Agreed Position and added that, this is the status of the issue. Jamir said that no Indian Prime Minister or Home Minister or any other leader will ever sign and barter away any part of the Indian Union against National sovereignty and integrity.
He said after signing of the FA, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had, stated that for the first time underground leaders have agreed to be part of Indian National life.
“I don’t know now why they’re talking about something that was not contained in public domain (FA)” said Jamir.
On Integration, Jamir recalled that during negotiation with Jawaharlal Nehru, the NPC was informed that under Article 3 & 4, a new State can be created only provided there was consensus among other States.
Thus, with regard to integration of Naga contiguous areas of Manipur, he said the issue could have been taken up by Nagas of Manipur. However, he said when RC Chiten Jamir, executive councillor (Interim Body) went to meet Nagas at the rally in Ukhrul, they declined to join the new State of Nagaland. Furthermore, Jamir said Naga MLAs of Manipur have never taken up the issue of integration of Naga areas in the Manipur Legislative Assembly.
On demand for third party intervention by NSCN (IM) Jamir said it was baffling since the group had been in talks for over 20 years with the Government of India’s Interlocutor and eventually signed the FA in 2015. On recent defamatory post against him, Jamir said it only exposed the nature of such people who have nothing to offer the Nagas but only hatred and division.
Asked about the mushrooming of Naga factions which till date numbered around 26, Jamir said this reflected the state of affairs within the Naga political movement. He said it was not only problematic for the Government of India but also for Nagas in particular.
He said in reality “It appears that our leaders prefer factions rather than unity” and added that it was “the greatest tragedy in the Naga political pilgrimage.”
Personally, Jamir opined that the State Government ought to exhibit its obligation at such a critical juncture so as to implement its legitimate Constitutional authority to save the situation.  Nagaland Post