Kohima: While addressing the seventh session of the Nagaland legislative Assembly (NLA) on Friday, Nagaland governor RN Ravi said negotiations between the Government of India (GoI) and the Naga groups over the past many years have been concluded.
“There is now a need for efforts to build on the substantial gains made so far, and to move swiftly for the final solution,” the governor said.
The governor said that while the fight against COVID-19 remains one of the most important missions of the state government for the past many months, an early resolution of the long drawn out Naga political issue also remains the focus.
He recalled the “historic consultative meeting” on the Naga political issue held in Kohima on October 15 last year, which was attended by Tribal Hohos, civil society organizations, political parties and representatives from other sections of the society.
Reiterating that there will be only one solution to the Naga political issue, he mentioned the seven-point resolution that was unanimously adopted that day.
The governor added that the other significant step towards facilitating the peace process was the joint statement issued by Chief Minister of Nagaland Neiphiu Rio and leader of Opposition TR Zeliang on December 18 last year, which welcomed the “positive approach” of the Centre under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s leadership towards expediting the ongoing peace talks.
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Ravi said that while the statement had urged all Naga Groups to come together under the spirit of reconciliation, mutual trust and understanding and strive with sincerity, it also urged the Naga organisations to uphold the values of reconciliation and non-violence in the interest of the future of Naga people.
Contrary to his Republic day speech, where Ravi claimed that illegal taxations by anti-social elements have not been fully curbed despite actions taken by the state police and the security forces, he said, “there have been some localised incidents that were contained with swiftness by the district administration and police.”
Also Read: No solution due to ‘unrealistic intransigence’ of some people: RN Ravi on peace talks
The seventh session of the NLA began on Friday and will continue till February 20. A minute of silence was also observed to pay homage to former chief secretary of the state, Temjen Toy, who passed away in January this year.
