MP Tokheho Yephtomi clarifies statement on Naga issue in Lok Sabha

KOHIMA: Issuing a clarification on his recent statement made in the Lok Sabha on the Naga political negotiations, Nagaland Lok Sabha MP Tokheho Yephtomi said that he has ''no ill-motive or intention to go against the Naga political negotiations which have been going on for the last twenty-three and half years''. In a press statement issued by the MP it has been mentioned that on February 12, the House granted two minutes to a few members of the Parliament to discuss matters of urgent public importance. Within the allotted time, it was not possible ''to divulge the historical and political dynamics of the decades long Naga Political issue'', read the statement.

Affirming his appreciation and support to the Framework Agreement and the Agreed Position between the Government of India and Naga groups, the MP stated that the signing of the agreement will go down in the annals of history as testimony of the grit and determination of Nagas. Clarifying on his statement the MP asserted, ''I did not contradict my statement about the ongoing negotiations, rather the only issue I raised was in correspondence to the reply of Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to my Unstarred Question No 1330 laid on February 9, 2021.'' The reply to the MP's question said that ''negotiations were in advanced stage''.

The MP also highlighted that the Nagaland Governor had stated on the floor of the State Assembly on February 12 that negotiations had been concluded. Owing to this contradiction between the MHA and the Governor of Nagaland, Yepthomi raised the issue in the Parliament for clarification. ''My participation was only focused to draw attention of the Indian Parliament for an early Agreement to Naga Political Negotiations,'' he added.

Stating that whether the agreement reaches a certain consensus depends upon the negotiating parties, ''The Nagas have been living together with mutual respect, love, tolerance and understanding. It is this reciprocity that has made our land peaceful for many years now and I can only hope that by the grace and mercy of God we can leave behind a society better than we found for future generations,'' concluded the MP.

Earlier on February 14, the NSCN (I-M) taking note of the comments made by MP issued a statement criticising him for usage of terms like ''underground'' and ''militant''.

It had also asserted that the historical and political dynamics were missing in the MP's presentation, while also pointing out that, ''he could not even quote the correct date of the signing of the historic Framework Agreement'' and that the presentation of the Naga case by the MP ''leaves much to be regretted''.

Raising the issue of the Naga Political issue in the Lok Sabha during the Zero Hour on February 12, MP Yepthomi urged the government that the agreement should be implemented without further delay. (Agencies)

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