Irked by Nagaland minister Imna Along's comment on the issue of Naga flag and Naga constitution, the Naga Hoho on Sunday said that every sensible Naga must condemn such a person "who is acting as an enemy to his own nation".
According to Naga Hoho, while the Government of India is seriously considering to resolve the Naga issue, a man of high status in the person of Imna Along, who is not only a minister of Nagaland but also one of the 28 presidents of the BJP in the sub-continent, spoke on the floor of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly recently and commented on behalf of the Government of India that the “Naga Flag and Constitution are not achievable.”
The Naga Hoho said that this statement is ludicrous and exhibits the minister's deliberate outrageous attitude towards the Naga people’s rights to live freely as distinct people and the uniqueness of the Naga political history as recognized by the Government of India.
"We are well aware that Imna Along is an agent of the Government of India by the fact that this is not the first time he has spoken on behalf of India," Naga Hoho said, adding, "Every sensible Naga must condemn such a person who is acting as an enemy to his own nation. One may keep on receiving awards and privileges beyond the advantages of most by siding with the Government of India".
Naga Hoho noted that "this ambitious rise" to high status comes at the cost of betrayal to one’s own people. "It must be understood by one and all that the Naga political movement exists not for gaining opportunities of employment or economic packages for the present generation but for the struggles for a free nation," it also said.
Naga Hoho then said that the Government of India and the negotiating parties have signed the agreements and talks for a logical conclusion is at a crucial stage in which every stakeholder must extend their fullest support rather than talking about one’s own suppositions. The Naga body also said that it is the desire of Nagas to witness the Naga political solution becoming a reality. "While anxiously waiting for a logical conclusion, however, the history and rights of the Nagas cannot be surrendered for want of an early solution," it added.
Naga Hoho then appealed to all "fellow Nagas" to be a positive contributing factor towards reaching "our destiny instead of remaining a destructive force when the negotiating parties are all seriously striving to find an amicable political settlement".
Naga Hoho then recalled that Nagas' quest for freedom has cost thousands of "precious lives and immeasurable sufferings to the Nagas".
It further said that the sacrifices of the pioneering leaders are rendered for posterity to live in a free nation. It added that keeping in mind the legacy of the Naga homeland the struggle continues for a peaceful solution to the protracted Indo-Naga political problem "which is expected to be at the final stage".
