DIMAPUR, SEPTEMBER 27 (MExN): Responding to the censure made on him by the NSCN (IM), former Chief Minister of Nagaland SC Jamir stated that he had consistently endeavored to work for the welfare of the people of Nagaland to the best of his capabilities and that he had no regrets whatsoever of the political decisions that he had taken in his life “since they have been taken out of firm convictions” according to his conscience.
“Likewise, I give the benefit of doubt to other Naga leaders – both underground and over ground – that they too are true to their convictions, and more importantly, to their own conscience and that all their actions and utterances are guided by their genuine beliefs for the welfare and progress of the Naga community”, Jamir stated pointing out that “people are experienced and intelligent enough to understand the banal political gimmickry of vested interests during these long years of political movement”. “Therefore, any attempt to fool the people would be a futile exercise and would be an insult to the intellect and competence of the Naga people”, Jamir stated.
“Those involved in the Naga political movement should be very clear about their roles and responsibilities, and those engaged in State-craft under the Constitution of India should stand by their commitment”, Jamir stated and gave the opinion that it should be the endeavour of Naga leaders to uphold their respective causes “because mixing up the two would thoroughly dilute the movement which Nagas have held so dear to their hearts and for which they have sacrificed so much”.
The former Chief Minister also clarified point by point on the issues raised by the NSCN (IM). On the letter to P. Shilu, Jamir stated that this “invariably surfaces from the depths of oblivion on the eve of every election and this time too, it has been purposely raised”. Jamir stated that he did not agree with the idea of the Prime Minister by-passing Shilu and negotiating directly with AZ Phizo and reiterated that the Chief Minister of Nagaland, no matter who he or she might be, can never be side lined while chalking out any solution to the vexed Naga political problem if the federal structure of the Indian Union were to be protected, maintained and strengthened.
On his usage of the word “hostiles”, Jamir stated that this was and is apparently unpalatable to some sections of the Naga people and understood how it hurts them since other words like “terrorists”, “insurgents”, “miscreants”, “anti-social elements” etc would also hurt genuine activists. Jamir informed he was the one who opposed his seniors in the Pfutsero Convention of the NNO in the late 1960s who termed the underground cadres as “hostiles”. “I had argued that they were very much part and parcel of the Naga family and that they must have a say in the final political settlement. This argument resulted in the adoption of a resolution of the NNO at the Pfutsero Convention to treat them as “inalienable part of the Naga community”, Jamir stated.
On the so-called coup alleged to be masterminded by the RAW in 1978 and also of 1988, Jamir stated that this had been chronicled comprehensively and convincingly by no less than a faction of the NSCN itself and the booklet had been widely circulated. Jamir stated that the allegations are too ridiculous, juvenile and ludicrous to be replied to. “It is absolutely beyond comprehension why anyone should blame someone else for their mistakes or differences just because elections are round the corner!”
On the alleged indoctrination of his philosophy, Jamir stated that he had never hidden his beliefs and convictions and that he had always resolutely and confidently spoken out in all available public forums, including the local and national media about his political stand. “If any group or individuals echo my statements, I can only say with humility that my thoughts and beliefs have been accorded consideration and deemed agreeable”, Jamir stated but ridiculed the NSCN (IM)’s claim that his so-called “brainchild Khaplang and his boys” reverberate his ideologies.
Jamir also clarified that as the then Chief Minister of Nagaland, it was hilarious as he had never heard of any Chief Minister asking the Prime Minister to dismiss his own Government when he enjoyed full support of the Assembly and impose President’s Rule.
Pointing out that if deployment of more army personnel in Nagaland were to end the Naga political struggle, the Government of India has enough personnel to be deployed to Nagaland and the problem would have been solved decades back.” Jamir likewise affirmed that he “was instrumental, if not pivotal, in convincing the Central Government leaders to come to this conclusion and therefore, we have the on-going political negotiations”. Jamir likewise reiterated that the Naga political problem is a national problem and that it needs a negotiated, political and honourable solution and that there can never be a military solution to any political problem.
On the other allegations raised, Jamir stated that like any Chief Minister of Nagaland, he had always been compelled by financial constraints of the State, owing mainly to the lack of resource generation, to ask the Central Government for allocation of more funds to develop the State and to enable the State Government to effectively carry out its developmental programmes and policies. “And to even contrive that I have asked for granting of more money to “crush the NSCN and the Naga national movement” as stated by the NSCN (IM), implies that the organization or the movement can be influenced by money, which I do not agree at all”.
Jamir stated that there could be some elements in the organization or the movement which can be swayed by trivial material gains but did not for a moment think that the organization as a whole can be purchased, nor “the sacred Naga movement can be crushed by money from the Centre.
On allegations that he was against extension of the Ceasefire, Jamir stated that he was the only Chief Minister in the Northeast who told the then Deputy Prime Minister, who was also the Home Minister then, not to go back on the Amsterdam Agreement extending the Ceasefire without territorial limits. “I questioned how the Government of India could go back on its words even before the ink with which the agreement was signed had not even dried up”, Jamir clarified while pointing out that several Naga leaders in Manipur appreciated his views even though his fellow Chief Ministers in the neighbouring State did not agree with me or liked me for my principled stand. “I have never quite understood or appreciated why the present Ceasefire agreements should have territorial limits when the 1964 Ceasefire Agreement did not have any, and was not opposed by any of the neighbouring States at that point of time. Therefore, to claim that I opposed the Ceasefire extension is factually incorrect and smacks of some ulterior political motives of those leveling the baseless accusation”.
Jamir further stated that he had “no comments to make on the utterly unjustified allegation that I “activated” the Indian Army and para military forces to arrest, raid and let loose a reign of terror and that “with the change of guard” there has been a semblance of peace even though the Ceasefire Ground Rules are the same”. Jamir stated that he would rather let statistics and the prevailing ground realities of law and order convince the people to make up their minds. “I would be the last person to comment on the “change of guard” in Nagaland for obvious reasons! However, this statement that there has been a semblance of peace after the “change of guard” in the State is a very loaded statement which discerning Naga populace might like to seriously ponder upon”.
As for the allegation that he spoke out against the NSCN in the North East Congress Coordination Committee meeting in 2004, of which he was then Chairman of the Committee, Jamir stated that he did not remember the NSCN been on the agenda of the meeting. “Nor do I recollect any member giving such importance to any single organization in the Northeast to include them in the agenda of the meeting”. Regarding acceptance or rejection of the Constitution of India by any organization, Jamir stated that he will not comment at this juncture lest he was criticized of throwing a spanner in the works. “However, the NSCN Leadership might like to enlighten the Naga people about the status of the talks and the significance and implications of the extension of Ceasefire for an indefinite period of time”.
On the 16-point agreement, Jamir stated that he had been made to appear, time and time, again that he was the author and that he was “flattered that so much importance” is being given to him. “But in all honesty and with modesty, I must point out that I was only the Joint Secretary and one of the junior-most officials of the Naga People’s Convention (NPC)”.
Jamir reaffirmed the view that “Statehood is one of the best things to have happened to the people of Nagaland so far, and that it was the best available option for the people at that point of time”. “I believe the hundreds of thousands of Naga people who have benefited by Statehood all these decades would agree with me that if not for Statehood, we Nagas of Nagaland would not have progressed or come thus far. Statehood has perceptibly changed our lives for the better as mentioned in the booklet Bedrock of Naga Society”.
Unfortunately Jamir stated that some vested interests have interpreted the booklet according to their whims and fancies. “However, I am grateful that the Booklet has opened the eyes of many people to the historical developments of the State and Nagas as a people and the purpose of the booklet has been duly served. And as the then President of the Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee, I take full responsibility for what negative fall out the booklet might have produced and it would be unfair to allege that any particular individual has authored it”.
Jamir also added that he was sometimes “quite flattered that there are some people who are totally obsessed with me and they tend to blow my persona out of all sensible proportions. They give me over exaggerated credit, whether good or bad, than I actually deserve; they invest in me more power or authority than I wield to either derail or enhance the political process; they conjure quite childishly a super human out of me”.
