DIMAPUR, AUGUST 3 (MExN): Marking eight years of the Framework Agreement being signed between the NSCN (IM) and the Government of India, the Yaruiwo of the NSCN/GPRN today said that “there is no question of moving away in any manner or dilute the sovereign meaning of the historic agreement.”
In a programme to mark 8 years of the agreement being signed, the Yaruiwo, Q Tuccu said that “there is no greater achievement we can be proud of when the truth of Naga sovereign identity was acknowledged by the Government of India by signing the historic Framework Agreement on this day the 3rd August, 2015.” It was not only an indelible chapter added in the Naga political history but a challenging task for the Nagas to stand the ground till the logical conclusion emerged, he stated.
Tuccu recognized that eight years down the line, “it was an incredible journey with resilience and determination as we wait for the Government of India to act on what has been agreed upon.” Notwithstanding the “inordinate delay” in implementing the Framework Agreement, he praised the members of the NSCN (IM) “for having the courage and fortitude to put your heads high respecting the sanctity of the historic agreement.”
“Framework Agreement as we know is now the foundation on which the Naga political solution that is honorable and inclusive would be established. There is no question of moving away in any manner or dilute the sovereign meaning of the historic agreement. History would judge us if we fail to protect the Naga sovereign identity,” the Yaruiwo added.
He further stated that “if we scan the pages of Naga history we should know who have betrayed the Nagas and how Government of India flattered the Nagas in the name of Naga solution in collusion with our own Naga leaders who have no respect for the historical and political rights of the Nagas.” Tuccu said that the present state of Nagaland state was created “out of treachery and not by expressed will of the Naga freedom fighters and Naga people. We must learn from history and such blunder should not be allowed to happen again.”
He further stated that the world has come to know much better of the Naga political issue because of the Framework Agreement (FA), adding that it was after more than 50 years of fierce fighting that the Government of India “accepted the historical truth that Nagalim was never an integral part of India either by conquest or consent.” Since then the narrative of the Indo-Naga political talks was made to be seen from higher perspective and ultimately Government of India granted official recognition to the unique history of the Nagas on July 11, 2002, he said.
“Finally, the political talks gained momentum when the historic Framework Agreement was signed on August 3, 2015 giving recognition to the sovereign identity of the Nagas. The driving force behind the Framework Agreement was recognition of the uniqueness of Naga history as recognized by the Government of India. As testified by the development that followed, understanding of the past history is crucial in responding and shaping the political status of the Indo-Naga political talks,” the Yaruiwo said.
He recalled that Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the Naga people and the people of India for exercising unprecedented patience in supporting the Indo-Naga peace process. “With all faith and confidence, we believe that an honorable peaceful political solution will be worked out before long," the PM had said.
Recognizing that the Naga political issue is very complex, he urged all to continue to have faith and confidence that something honorable will be worked out soon. “Therefore, let us not lose sight of NSCN's goal but to stand firmly behind the Framework Agreement, doing our duty faithfully and firmly on the side of freedom and justice,” he appealed.
