Upcoming assembly elections in Nagaland will be a referendum: Congress

Dimapur: Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) president K Theri said that the upcoming assembly elections in Nagaland will be a battle for the Naga people between a resolution of the Naga issue and a secular government or a government that thrives on religious division. There will be a referendum.
In a statement on Sunday, Therie said the July 16, 2022 resolution by the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) parliamentary committee, which had given hope for a settlement, had been thrown into the dustbin. “Instead of implementing the resolution for settlement, it is surprising that the seat-sharing agreement was glossed over in the media,” he said.

The Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) and the BJP have recently announced to contest the state assembly elections early next year on a 40:20 seat share.
Theri said he appreciated the July 16 resolution of the UDA Parliamentary Committee as the people’s representatives finally understood the wishes of the stakeholders to settle the agreements between the Government of India and the Naga negotiation teams.

After all other meetings on the Naga political issue, the Pradesh Congress chief noted, the UDA’s core committee used to reach Delhi with resolutions. “But surprisingly, this time neither the core committee nor the coalition partners went to table the resolution,” he said.

According to him, the conclusion of the agreements will benefit both Nagaland and Nagas outside Nagaland.
He said that the political structure for Nagaland would be improved through delimitation of Rajya Sabha, Lok Sabha, State Assembly and formation of Upper House.

“The Nagas outside Nagaland would have got Regional Autonomous Councils under Schedule VI with direct funding like States and Union Territories through Finance Commission Award,” he said. For this purpose, the constitution was amended to mandate the Finance Commission (to recommend the transfer of funds in 2019, he added).

Thiry said the amendment also transferred 30 departments to state power-sharing councils.
He said that the Congress has decided to support the agreements for the above reasons.

“It’s definitely an improvement. It’s sad that we’re missing an opportunity again and this time it’s the people’s government that stands in the way of a settlement,” Thierry added.