IMPHAL, December 10: The first general body meeting of the Naga Political Leaders Forum, Manipur was held today at the Tribal Research Institute, Imphal with convenor Soso Lorho, co-convenor BD Behring, co-convenor Jangamlung Pamei in the chair.
The meeting was also attended by various political leaders like ex-ministers, ex-MLAs/MPs, ex-ADC chairmen, members, political leaders of various parties, tribe hoho leaders, tribe student leaders and civil society leaders.
According to a statement of the forum, the meeting resolved to appeal to all the Naga political groups to come and join the framework agreement between the Centre and the NSCN (IM) to work out a better future of the Naga people and their posterities, while appreciating both the GOI and the NSCN (IM).
It was further resolved to take out political awareness mobilisation on the Framework Agreement in all the Naga districts at the earliest and reaffirmed trust and confidence in the collective leadership in regard to deciding the political destiny of the Nagas, and to further urged the Government of India to expedite the Framework Agreement to its logical conclusion, it said.
The meeting, it said also took serious note over the passing of the three “Anti-Tribal Bills” and two “Anti-Naga Resolutions” by the Manipur Legislative Assembly on August 31 of which the bills are Protection of Manipur People Bills, Manipur Land Revenue and Reform (Seventh Amendment) Bill, 2015 and Manipur Shops and Establishments (Second Amendment) Bill, 2015.
It further said that the members present in the meeting also decided resolutely to support the tribal people’s protest against those three Anti-Tribal bills and two Anti-Naga resolutions.
It also said that the meeting paid homage and respect to the tribal martyrs who were killed during the anti-bills agitation in Churachandpur.
It said the meeting further decided to urge the Government of India not to give assent to the bills but intervene by way of ‘promulgating the President’s Rule under Article 356 of the Constitution of India’
It further concluded to demand the Naga/Tribal MLAs to resign from their membership of the Manipur Legislative Assembly and appeal for unity of the Naga political factions and parties.