The recent visit of Union Minister of State for Statistics and Programme Implementation Oscar Fernandes drew more flaks than praise. Barring the Congress, all other major political parties and organizations have criticized the Union Minister’s visit terming it as a ‘futile exercise’.

Alleging that the itinerary had been completely stage-managed by the Congress, Nagaland Peoples Front (NPF) took serious cognizance of Mr. Fernandes’ visit to Nagaland. Observing that his earlier visit to Bangkok for political discussions with Naga leaders had evoked high expectations that the Union Minister would meet cross sections of the Naga society to solve the long-drawn political problem, NPF lamented over the fact that the Union Minister did not ‘even bother’ to meet the Governor of Nagaland, the State Cabinet or the NGOs and Church leaders etc. which proved a disappointment likening it to a ‘cold attitude’ which it said was contrary to expectations of the people.

NPF President Dr Shurhozelie, in a press statement asserted that if the Ministerial Team for the Naga Peace Talks headed by Oscar Fernandes is not sincere and serious towards their respective assigned responsibilities, the Naga peace process would be at stake. Referring to the visit of Fernandes to Nagaland yesterday, the NPF President stated that the itinerary of the Union Minister was planned and worked out entirely by the Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee and in it was included an official appointment with the Chief Minister of Nagaland and understood as to have been an event for serious political discussions. “But ironically it was more or less a courtesy call and no official discussions took place” lamented the NPF President.

Nagaland state unit of the BJP in a separate statement termed the visit of Fernandes as “totally unbecoming” which had “left behind a scar in the VVIP Officials Tour Records of Nagaland.” Citing many an instance of what the BJP implied as being suggestive of cold-shouldering the expectations of the Nagas from the Union minister’s visit, the statement regretted that his failure to honor various important protocols had completely ignored the important and basic responsibilities of the State Government.

Naga Hoho  Vice-President Keviletuo Kiewhuo said, ‘’it was expected of Mr Fernandes to show more sincerity to the peace process since he is shouldering the responsibility of negotiator on behalf of the Centre. The Union Minister had failed to meet any civil society, NGO or political party, apart from Congress functionaries during his two-day visit to Nagaland,’’ he said. The apex body of various Naga tribes felt that consultations with the civil societies and organisations and different spectrum of political groups in Nagaland on the part of Mr. Fernandes would have created confidence in the peace process.

Coming to the rescue of Mr. Fernandes, Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) made it clear that the two-day Nagaland visit by the Union Minister Oscar Fernandes was a private one and had no connection whatsoever with the ongoing peace process nor were there any State official activities. The NPCC more stated that the Union Minister, being a CWC Member and also in-charge of North East Congress Committee had come to Nagaland to address the PCC members’ meet NPCC asserted that Fernandes, being the Union Minister had been accorded as a State Guest.

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