The NSCN-IM on Tuesday stated that it is not going to succumb, but stick to the Framework Agreement for the Naga solution, ‘notwithstanding the dithering stand of the Government of India.’
It was during the time of PV Narasimha Rao as ‘Congress Prime Minister of India that the Indo-Naga political issue was given a serious kick-off that eventually led to the signing of 1997 Indo-Naga ceasefire, a release issued by the Ministry of Information and Publicity (MIP) stated.
It stated that the Indo-Naga political talks that started in right earnest had resulted in giving recognition to the uniqueness of Naga history and political situation in 2002. According to NSCN-IM, it was on this basis that the Framework Agreement was signed on August 3, 2015. It added that the political identity of the Naga people was well crafted here to give sovereign identity to the Nagas as supported by the historical and political rights.
Further it stated that ironically, in what can be construed as reflecting the anti-Naga ideological mentality of Jawaharlal Nehru, the Nagaland State Congress party leaders had taken the same line of approach to Naga political issue by deliberately going blind to the political meaning of the Framework Agreement to suit their own narrative to oppose Naga solution based on the Framework Agreement.
Significantly, according to NSCN-IM, the Indo-Naga history is like an open book where one can read the pages where political gaffe is prominently seen, it stated. It also mentioned that the blunders of history like the 9 Point Agreement, 16 Point Agreement and Shillong Accord are all crafted not for Naga solution, but to flatter and fatten a certain section of Nagas who still continue to enjoy the highest security and privileges from the Government of India for their services and loyalty at the cost of Naga peoples’ historical and political rights.
The release stated that unfortunately, the Naga Congress leaders refused to learn any lesson from history and choose to continue with their obstinate behavior to oppose the political contents of the Framework Agreement, signaling their inclination to forego anything to do with Naga sovereign identity as clearly mentioned in Framework Agreement and go for the solution for the people of Nagaland state only.
This idea is totally abhorrent as this reflects Nehru's dehumanizing of Naga people’s political right, NSCN-IM added.
They deliberately closed their eyes while studying the Framework Agreement and foul-mouthed that there is no mention of sovereignty in Framework Agreement, the release alleged.
This is not different from the same political stand taken by Nehru who chose to defile the political sanctity of the Naga people, it stated. No wonder the genesis of Naga people’s human rights violation and suffering started with Congress regime under Nehru who sent thousands of Indian security forces to forcefully occupy Nagalim” it added.
Recalling the story of Israelites' journey to Canaan, NSCN-IM stated that when the people of Israel were on the way to the promised land of Canaan, there were complaints against Moses that they should be taken back to Egypt. The complaints of NPCC that they want a piecemeal solution and solution for the Nagas of Nagaland state only is comparable to the complaints of Israelites against Moses to go back to Egypt, the release stated.
Certainly, more than two decades of Indo-Naga political talks is one of the longest in the history of political negotiations in the world, it further stated while adding but it is the commitment of NSCN that they will never take the Naga people back to Egypt.
There are various political leaders and intellectuals who are harping on ‘going Back to Egypt’ theory for meeting their vested individuals’ interests at the cost of the Nagas common rights and identity, without considering the risk involved that will ultimately lead to the loss of “our future, our identity, our history and our birth rights,” it stated.
It stated that NSCN-IM cannot afford to let the Nagas become a lost tribe. It added that the journey that has begun more than decades back cannot be aborted midway under any circumstances.
