The Nagaland Congress Party is the off- shoot of the Nagaland Nationalist Organization (NNO) which merged with the Indian National Congress on the 19th June,1976.
The first General Election after attaining Statehood was held in January,1964. In the history of the Nagas, for the first time, a responsible and popular Government was formed by NNO party in January,1964. Since than the NNO Government has set itself to the task of running a responsible Government with firm determination to solve the Naga political problem and to bring peace and development to Nagaland.
Immediate and supreme task for the newly elected NNO party Government was to put an end to hostilities and uncertainties by creating understanding and goodwill among the people, and to restore normal conditions in the state. At once, the NNO party and the State Government took to the plough and started preparing the ground. In the meanwhile, God gave a vision to the Baptist Church leaders to form a Peace Mission in the Third Baptist Church Convention at Wokha in 1964. The proposal to form a Peace Mission was approved by the NNO party in Dimapur Session in February,1964. The Government of Nagaland, after careful consideration, agreed to the proposal and introduced a Government Resolution in the Nagaland Legislative Assembly which was passed unanimously on 13th March,1964. The operative portion of the Resolution is :
That efforts be made to open every possible avenue to negotiate for such a talk giving full opportunities to all sections of the public of Nagaland in mobilizing public opinion to prepare the spade work to make the proposed talk a success with the sole object of restoration of lasting peace in Nagaland. That the underground people be urged to consider this matter of peace talks seriously to create healthy atmosphere and necessary conditions for the peace talks.
The NNO party and the State Government having pledge to bring a political settlement, declared that they will not stand on the way, and allowed the underground leaders to have direct talks with the Prime Minister. This is the reason why the underground leaders could hold six rounds of peace talks with the Prime Minister, Shrimati Indira Gandhi.
In 1969 Election Manifesto of the Nagaland Nationalist Organization (NNO) – Political – it has stated that in political field, the Nagaland Nationalist Organization has continuously striven for the unity of the Naga tribes, for the return of peace to our strife-torn land and for the creation of the right climate for the Naga peoples’ advancement. This party believes that the Naga problems can be solved by the Nagas themselves. After all, it is nobody else’s but our folly or enjoy outcome of our wise actions.
The Nagaland Nationalist Organization has consistently followed the principles and policies that attempts should be made to establish contacts with all shades of public opinion both in the over ground and underground without any discrimination or being pitted against one another, to arrive at a satisfactory political settlement. To this effect, the NNO in its 7th General Session held at Pfutsero on 30th and 31st January,1970, passed the following resolution:-
“The Nagaland Nationalist Organization reiterated that the Naga problem is essentially a political one; that the underground Nagas are an inalienable part of Naga society, and that they should have a say in final settlement of the Naga problem. Being conscious of the fact that delay in settling the political problem will bring more hardship and sufferings to the Naga people, the NNO and the State Government continued to strive with renewed efforts to solve the vexed problem”.
In February,1993, Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee Election Manifesto, it is stated that the Congress recognizes that the underground problem is political needing political approach punctuated by love, sympathy and understanding. It also recognizes that any meaningful dialogue with the Government of India would be fruitful when the issue is presented with one voice. The party therefore shall mobilize all possible and constructive forces to bring unity and mutual understanding among different groups of the underground set up. The party is sanguine that all the Nagas belonging to one family and having brotherly feelings for one another, a compassionate approach would unit them at one forum and resolve their differences with a spirit of give and take. This issue shall be listed in our party agenda having the top priority.
The Indian National Congress being a National party will serve as a bridge between the Central Government and the underground and shall render all possible assistance to bring the two parties to a negotiating table.
In February,2003 Election Manifesto – The Congress party strongly re-affirms that the problem which we face to day is a political problem. It has to be resolved politically and through peaceful and democratic means … On all counts, it is absolutely evident that the political problem can be resolved only through the political process and not through violence and confrontation.
On the 5th January,1993, when I was the President of the Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee, in the Congress Party Election Rally at Dimapur Stadium, the then Prime Minister, Shri P.V.Narashimha Rao, announced in the Rally that the Naga problem is political problem needing political solution. As a consequence of that the Cease fire between the Government of India and the NSCM-IM was signed. If the Congress \do not want to talk Naga political problem or against the Naga political issue, why and how this happened? The Congress party is a matured and responsible party.
(CHINGWANG KONYAK)
MLA
Former President,
Nagaland Pradesh
Congress Committee