Kohima: Not long after the NSCN-K Niki group entered into a ceasefire agreement with the Government of India (GoI), the NSCN-IM said that no amount of agreements will bring about a solution to the Naga issue if it is not issue-based.
The NSCN-IM, through its MIP, said that it is the “one and only authentic political organization of the Naga people” and ceasefire agreement with “surrogate factions” would be a “wrong step for the Government of India to complicate the Naga issue by taking pleasure in going for many agreements under false pretext which bears no political meaning towards the Naga solution”.
“Talking for a solution is meaningless and wastage of time if it is not with the mandated organization that holds the trump card,” it said. The group said that GoI has “gained notoriety for overindulgence in duplicitous dealing that comes in the role of scheming villain to kill the Naga issue by keeping the Nagas divided”.
Saying that the world is keenly watching the dramatic political situation in Nagalim (Nagaland), the group exuded confidence that the political wisdom of the Indian leaders who are steering the political talks with the NSCN-IM leadership of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN), is taken into cognizance as both sides agreed to start the political dialogue on the basis of mutually agreed points- talk at the highest level, without any conditions, and in third countries.
Also Read: No talks with Assam unless withdrawn from border areas: Mizoram PCP
NSCN-IM recalled the historic Framework Agreement signed on August 3 in 2015. “The agreement clearly reflects the unique history of the Nagas, sovereignty of the people, and shared sovereignty of the two entities. Significantly, the agreement put the hope of the two people on a high level for a durable solution and peace in the land,” it said.
It slammed the “deceitful dealing” of the Government of India in signing ceasefire agreements with its “surrogate factions” which created doubt on India’s sincere commitment. “The Naga political issue is not something to be displayed in this deceptive manner before the world. The issue is one and there will be one solution,” NSCN-IM said.
Even if the Centre “stoop low” to twist its words, it said that history can never be twisted. With the “deceptive manner of handling the Naga issue,” it questioned if GoI will enter into agreements with other people also on Naga political issues in the name of stakeholders. The group said it will simply be a breach of trust and making a mockery of the Naga issue.
According to the group, at this stage, it has become critically important for GoI to reaffirm its position and commitment to the Framework Agreement (FA) saying “The Government of India and NSCN have come a long way negotiating for the Naga solution that is honorable and acceptable to both the parties. No matter how complex, there is no running away. Both the parties must go deep into the crux of the problem with mutual respect and commitment”.
Further, the group said that the solution should be materialized through the work of people’s mandated organization or government, and never in the hands of the collaborators citing that history has clearly said that collaborators have “no room” in it.
“NSCN is of the firm conviction that both the parties have much to gain from the Framework Agreement. We shall, therefore, take the stand to stick to it in any eventuality,” it concluded.
Also read: 7 arrested by CBI in murder case linked to W Bengal post-poll violence
