DIMAPUR, February 19 (MExN): The Working Committee of the Naga National Political Groups (WC, NNPGs) has reiterated the need for an inclusive resolution to the Indo-Naga political issue while questioning the endorsement of one agreement over the other signed with the Government of India (GoI).
In a statement released in response to a letter submitted to Union Home Minister Amit Shah by 21 opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) in the Rajya Sabha, the WC also questioned the ‘secrecy’ of the Framework Agreement (FA) signed between the Government of India (GoI) and the NSCN-IM.
“While appreciating the 21 Indian lawmakers for expressing their support for an early solution, we must not make unnecessary hype or assume the move as legitimisation of the Framework Agreement over the Agreed Position,” it held.
Both agreements have been signed with the same Interlocutor, empowered by the same Government (GoI) and the same Prime Minister of India, over the same political issue (Indo-Naga political issue), it added.
The WC, NNPGs, with General (Retd) MB Neokpao Konyak as Convenor, further pointed out that the MPs’ letter was a “clear indication” that the Framework Agreement and the contemplated political solution are indeed within the confines of the Indian Union.
To this end, it asserted that the 21 opposition MPs must be “well acquainted with the contours” of the Framework Agreement and thus would not “blindly vouch” for any such agreement that threatens the "National Integrity" or undermines the Indian Constitution and the Sovereignty of India, “under any circumstances whatsoever.”
The same has been briefed to the "Select Committee" of the Indian Parliament and the Nagaland Legislative Assembly by the then Interlocutor RN Ravi, it added.
Meanwhile, the WC, NNPGs asserted that the ‘Agreed Position’ was signed with prior consultations and endorsement of Naga stakeholders and remains transparent in the public domain.
However, it contended that the FA is limited to NSCN-IM, and the negotiation process also “remained isolated, opaque and accessible to only a few selected leaders” of the group.
Accordingly, the WC, NNPGs also criticised the Global Naga Forum (GNF), calling on it to clarify its position and its interpretation of "shared sovereignty" as outlined in the FA.
It further stated that the forum should clarify why it deemed the Naga people's endorsed Agreed Position between GoI and WC, NNPGs, as a “counter to the original Framework Agreement.”
Hence, it accused the GNF of fuelling division among Naga political groups by selectively supporting a group rather than promoting an inclusive solution.
It also demanded a public clarification from the forum regarding its ‘status and position’ as to whether it truly represents the global Naga community or just one NPG.
The WC, NNPGs also reminded that while the FA is exclusively for the NSCN (IM), the latter does not “in any manner ensure or reflect an inclusive political solution encompassing all the Naga stakeholders.”
To remedy what it termed as a political blunder, the WC, NNPGs asserted that the Naga people identified the necessity to “initiate a broad-based, comprehensive and holistic political agreement that can ensure an honourable, enduring and inclusive political solution.”
Thus, with political clarity, the 'Agreed Position' was subsequently signed with the GoI, and the agreement provided for a transparent and exhaustive political dialogue fully supported by the Naga people, it maintained.
Thereafter, based on the "historical and political rights” and the rights of the Nagas to self-determine their own future, a political document titled 'Status Paper', outlining a pragmatic blueprint for an inclusive solution to the Indo-Naga political issue, was collaboratively produced, the WC, NNPGs pointed out.
As per the WC, it was agreed in principle by both entities, i.e. the GoI and the WC, NNPGs, and to “guarantee inclusivity, an implementation scheme was to be worked out immediately by taking all the Naga negotiating groups on board.”
However, it accused the NSCN (IM) of retracting from the October 31, 2019 “declaration” in order to evade responding to public scrutiny of the “secret contents of the FA and manufacturing propaganda in total contradiction to its own FA commitment.”
“The only obstacle to a Naga political solution is IM’s exclusivity and its sponsored organisations joining the chorus,” the WC, NNPGs concluded.
Adding more content to its assertion, the WC, NNPGs reminded that the solution to the Indo-Naga political issue remains elusive, with ignorant interpretations of the Indo-Naga peace process adding more complications.
Since the 1964 Indo-Naga bilateral ceasefire and the subsequent failure of the "six-round" talks at the Prime Minister's level, the Nagas have been attempting to muster political unanimity but have been “bogged down with factionalism and infighting,” it highlighted.
The need for political consensus among the Nagas, therefore, is crucial to finding an enduring and inclusive political solution, and the WC, NNPGs, after “consultations and endorsement of all the Naga stakeholders,” entered into a political dialogue with the GoI.
The signing of Agreed Position and the successful conclusion of the formal political dialogue between the GoI and the Naga negotiating groups, as declared on October 31, 2019, is a testament to the commitment to an early solution, it added.
