DIMAPUR, AUGUST 22 (MExN): The Nagaland Tribes Council (NTC) has written to the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi stating that any solution to the Naga issue must be inclusive.
In a memorandum to the PM, the NTC stated that in the event of any negotiation leading to finalization of any agreement under the Framework Agreement covering Nagaland, prior consent of the stakeholders is a must and all the Naga National Political Groups must be taken on board for inclusive solution so that the solution arrived will become lasting and acceptable to all.
The NTC expressed concern that the indigenous inhabitants of Nagaland are not at all aware of the contents of the Framework Agreement between the NSCN (IM) and the Government of India “as it has never been disclosed all throughout the process of negotiation.”
It said that the Nagas of Nagaland are “small tribal population who were considered vulnerable by the pioneers of India.” “That those pioneers found the tradition, culture and their lands and its resources are inalienable part of their life and therefore its protection and preservation was paramount in the interest of both the Nagas and the country,” it added.
“In view of providing legal insulation from possible exploitation, the conditions in 16-Points Memorandum of 1960 were incorporated in Art 371(A) of the Indian Constitution at the creation of the 16th State of Nagaland,” the NTC reminded. It made clear that the Nagas of Nagaland “are not in a position to accept any point under Framework that either modify, dilutes or infringes upon any provision in Art 371(A) under any circumstances.”
It further stated that “No. 13th of the 16-Points Memorandum of 1960 refers to Integration of Naga contiguous areas.”
The NTC added that it “upholds the principle of amalgamation of all the Naga inhabited areas in the North East India into a single administrative unit, and this has been the long cherished desire of the Nagas of Nagaland.”
“Nevertheless, the fact of the natural law is that, the land and its people are but one and inseparable,” it added, while maintaining that “Naga Integration should therefore evolve the coming together of the Nagas with their lands to live in a single State.”
Stating that Nagaland is one of the smallest States in terms of its geographical area which stands at 16,579 Sq. Kms having almost 2 million populations, the NTC reasoned that “for the survival of the Ethnic Indigenous inhabitants and with the limited area of land, we cannot afford to allow Nagaland to become the concentration camp or designated area for all hue.”
The NTC asserted that “if not for physical integration of both land and its people; it can never accept mere population integration.”
