KOHIMA, FEBRUARY 16 (MExN): The Global Naga Forum (GNF) has commended 21 Members of Parliament (MPs) for submitting a memorandum to Home Minister Amit Shah, urging the Indian government to accelerate the stalled Indo-Naga peace process. The forum described the MPs’ action as “an act of rare political courage and empathy in the face of persistent apathy on the part of the Indian government.”
In a statement issued on February 16, the GNF said the memorandum serves as a strong affirmation of democratic values in India and expressed hope that it would provide the necessary momentum for the long-neglected negotiations. “We hope the MPs’ intervention will give the long-neglected negotiation for a peaceful settlement the vital push it needs among politicians and intelligentsia across India,” the statement read. The organization also called for continued advocacy until a “meaningful and lasting resolution is achieved.”
The GNF criticized the Indian government for what it described as a history of “wilful neglect” and “double dealings” in the Indo-Naga peace talks. The forum accused the government of distorting the reality of the negotiations and shifting blame onto the Naga side. “These are common knowledge to both insiders and close observers alike of the negotiations, despite the government’s efforts to distort the situation and shift the blame squarely on the Naga side, to avoid shouldering the difficult political and moral responsibility at hand – resolving the longstanding Indo-Naga political problem,” the statement said.
The statement also referenced the Framework Agreement (FA) signed between the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) and the Indian government in 2015, which was hailed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a breakthrough in resolving the seven-decade-old political conflict. However, the GNF accused the Modi government of reneging on its commitment. “His government seems to have had a buyer’s remorse. Two years after the Framework Agreement was signed, the Interlocutor, RN Ravi, entered into a different agreement, Agreed Position (AP), with another Naga group, which went counter to the original Framework Agreement,” the GNF stated.
The forum argued that this dual agreement approach had led to a deadlock in negotiations, stating, “It is at a standstill because the Modi government has apparently washed its hands off the FA in favour of the AP, insisting that there will be only ‘one Naga solution,’ and blames the lack of progress in the peace process entirely on Naga disunity and intransigence instead of the two conflicting documents it signed (FA and AP) with different Naga groups.”
The 21 MPs, comprising members from both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, submitted their memorandum on February 3, calling on the Indian government to address the peace process in Parliament. The GNF said the MPs’ collective effort highlights a growing recognition of the Naga people’s aspirations. “Their support for the Framework Agreement highlights the growing recognition of the Naga people's aspirations and the urgent need for a political solution,” the forum stated.
The memorandum also stressed the need to elevate the status of the Naga peace talks' Interlocutor to a Union Ministerial level, in line with a resolution adopted on September 12, 2024, by the Nagaland government, tribal organizations, and civil society groups. The GNF called on the Nagaland government to provide clarity on its stance regarding the resolution, saying, “This step is crucial for ensuring decisive leadership in negotiations, yet there remains uncertainty regarding the state government’s full commitment to this resolution.”
The GNF asserted that the Indian government bears the responsibility of reciprocating the collective demand for a resolution. “The Government of India now holds the key, as it always has. It has the responsibility to reciprocate this collective demand and demonstrate the political will to resolve the Naga issue,” the statement read. The forum warned that continued delays in implementing the Framework Agreement would prolong uncertainty in the region.
Calling for a transparent and internationally monitored peace process, the GNF urged authorities to act with sincerity. “The patience of the Naga people has been tested beyond reason – seventy-seven years and running, since India’s independence from colonial rule in 1947,” the statement said, questioning whether India would honor its commitments. “Will India act in good faith as a mature, responsible democracy? Or will it continue its legacy of broken promises?”
The forum concluded by stating that history will judge the actions of India and all stakeholders regarding the Naga people's right to self-determination.
