DIMAPUR, Aug 27 - After holding a consultative meeting with Naga civil society groups on Indo-Naga political talks on August 25, the NSCN-IM leaders held another consultative meeting with Nagaland legislators at Police Complex in Chumukedima, 13 kms from here, on Wednesday.
Fifty-six of 60 members of the Assembly and more than 50 members of the NSCN-IM, including Nagaland Chief Minister TR Zeliang and NSCN-IM general secretary Th Muivah, attended the meeting.
According to sources, most of the legislators spoke about a solution that is honourable and acceptable and inclusive of all sections of the people. Media persons were not allowed entry into both the consultative meetings.
In his written speech, Zeliang opined that all Nagas should support the Naga Peace Accord of August 3, 2015, as it came at a crucial phase towards final solution. He said once the formula for resolution of the Naga political issue was ironed out between the Government of India and NSCN-IM, it should form the basis for a broad-based consultations among Naga political groups and people before acceptance or rejection.
Zeliang opined that the delicate task be spearheaded by interlocutor RN Ravi and NSCN-IM which would need the total support of legislators, mass-based Naga organisations, church, besides Forum for Naga Reconciliation so as to reactivate reconciliation among various groups.
He also cited various committees constituted by the Nagaland Assembly on Naga political issue, meetings with leaders of the Government of India and requested Eastern Naga People�s Organisation and Naga Hoho to impress upon NSCN-K leader SS Khaplang to resume the ceasefire.
Zeliang said a solution had been elusive since the Government of India had never made any offer in the form of a formula for the basis of discussion or negotiations with Naga nationalist groups and Naga society. He said the 16-Point Agreement of 1960, signed between the Naga People�s Convention and Government of India which led to creation of Nagaland, did not end the movement as the underground Naga nationalists were not taken on board.
Pointing to a series of initiatives undertaken by the members of the Nagaland Assembly, Zeliang maintained that all have accepted that the Naga political issue was no longer the preserve of Naga nationalist groups alone nor does it belong to any particular tribe or individual. Rather, he said, the issue belonged to Nagas as a whole. He reiterated that consultative meetings with leaders of Naga society were needed. He suggested that while talking on Naga political issue, the word �I� be replaced with �We� so that all could move forward for a common goal.
Zeliang added that as leadership comes and goes and no one could escape death, what is important is leaving behind a worthwhile legacy for posterity to remember with gratitude.
