DIMAPUR, FEBRUARY 22 (MExN): The Nagaland Tribes Council (NTC) today expressed surprise at the recent statement made by Union Home Minister, Rajnath Singh regarding the Framework Agreement signed between the Government of India and the NSCN (IM).
The Union Minister had reportedly said in Imphal that “no word related to Manipur contained in the Framework Agreement signed between GOI and NSCN (IM). There is no such provision in the agreement. Even the name of Manipur is not mentioned in it.”
Reacting to this, the NTC stated: “The statement implies that whatever are the provisions contained in the agreement are confined to the State of Nagaland alone as he further clarified that none of Nagaland’s neighbour state’s territory will be disturbed.”
It meanwhile reminded that even in the 19th month running since after the Framework Agreement was signed, “the Nagas of Nagaland in particular do not know an iota of the contents of the agreement.”
“What NTC knows about the framework is the two most important principle issues of sovereignty and integration are left out and that the settlement is within the ambit of the constitution of India,” it further claimed.
The NTC said to the GoI “and the NSCN (IM) in particular and to the Nagas in general that the indigenous Nagas of Nagaland are not in a position to accept such agreement done without our knowledge and consent. We are the chief stake-holders of State of Nagaland and we are qualified and legitimate enough to handle and protect the interest of Nagaland.”
The NTC further reiterated its objection to “a non-stakeholder handling the destiny of the Nagas of Nagaland without taking the indigenous citizens of Nagaland into confidence,” and termed it as “outside interference.”
