Dimapur, August 20 (MExN): A joint council of the NSCN (IM) steering committee and its ‘cabinet’ has responded to Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio’s reported statement on August 17 in New Delhi which was carried on Zee News that there was strong possibility of Islamic extremists establishing “sleeper cells” in the state with the help of active members of NSCN (IM). Rio had also reportedly stated that “NSCN (IM) operatives from the Muslim community have been maintaining direct or indirect links with extremist groups such as Harkat-ul-Jehadi-Islami (HuJI) and other criminal elements suspected to be having links with terrorist organizations.”
A rejoinder issued by Qhevihe Chishi Swu, convener of the steering committee and Kediitsu Tsuzuh, ‘kilo kilonser’ has termed Rio’s statement as “quite malicious and shocking to all the Nagas beyond imagination” and that it was “politically unthinkable that Mr. Rio will take such a sadistic pleasure to criticize and damage the reputation and credibility of NSCN.” The statement said Rio “must substantiate his wild allegation against NSCN of having clandestine relations with HuJI.”
“To speak the truth, NSCN has no relation at all with the so-called HuJI or any terrorist organization at any point of time. The wild allegation leveled against NSCN for having contact with Azad alias Robin has no iota of truth,” stated the group. The joint council meeting further added that the said ‘Azad’ was a “close associate of the Khehoi campers, who has even gone to the extent of launching joint operation with the Khehoi campers against NSCN”.
The statement added that Azad’s relation with the Assam Rifles and intelligence agencies is a matter of ‘established fact,’ the NSCN (IM) asserted. “Recently, it was learnt that Azad was killed by Indian security forces in Imphal for the reason best known to all,” it said.
The rejoinder also stated that “it is however not far to know the mind of the intelligence people who prodded Mr. Rio to issue such highly inflammable allegation against NSCN” and termed that their motive was to “falsely implicate NSCN as a terrorist organization in the eye of the world, and thereby, undermine the ongoing peace process.”
“NSCN is not a terrorist organization and this has been given legal acknowledgement even by the Indian Parliament”, the rejoinder asserted while also maintaining that it has “no link with any terrorist organization or lent any support to any listed terrorist organizations.” “Let this be known by the whole world that NSCN does not believe in the politics of terrorism,” the NSCN (IM) maintained. The group has further stated that it has become “absolutely imperative to take critical view on the reckless statement made by a person of Rio’s standing” and that it will “not allow anyone in any position to go scot free when he deliberately chooses to go headlong to defile the political image of NSCN.”
“It has been observed that Mr. Rio has taken the path to take pot-shots against NSCN. And it is a big challenge to the Naga nation. NSCN feels that his nonsensical utterance is too outrageous to forbear with”, the rejoinder stated.
On the contrary, the NSCN (IM) claimed that it was “known to all that the influx of foreign nationals into Nagaland state is the work of politicians” and that the “politicians who brought them from somewhere to make their vote bank in the elections.” The NSCN (IM) asserted that the Naga people are aware that “those foreigners brought along with them the seed of foreign culture and terrorism.” The NSCN (IM) statement also mentioned year 2008 when “more than 100 businessmen were abducted and extorted more than 20 crores (IC) by Khehoi campers under the very nose of Indian security forces, some of whom were killed, for non-payment of ransom.”
“Mr. Rio never took up necessary security steps to save the lives of innocent citizens or uttered even a word against the kidnappers. Where is his concern for the security of the state?” the group questioned and described as “bolt from the blue when Mr. Rio had the temerity to pass such unsavory allegation against NSCN to bargain his tinsel seat.” “He must have the courage to swallow the bitter truth” and that since “every individual is part of the nation Mr. Rio is answerable to the people/nation and NSCN, the authentic political organization of the Nagas,” it claimed.
