Dimapur, August 2 (MExN): The NSCN (IM) on Monday expressed dismay at the Government of India (GoI) for not fulfilling its commitment to the Naga peace process made through the Framework Agreement (FA) even after the passage of six years.
It said that the Naga people have been patient enough to wait for the GoI to act upon its own commitment and “the ball is, therefore, with the court of the Government of India, and not with the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN).”
“The political exigency is for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to appoint his representative(s) to pick up the political talk with NSCN talk team and take the Framework Agreement to a logical conclusion,” it said in a statement issued through its MIP on Monday.
The statement follows the NSCN (IM)’s call for “total closure of shops and business establishments in Nagalim till 12:00 noon of August 3, 2021” as a mark of protest against what it termed the GoI’s “silence” on the Framework Agreement which was signed between the two on August 3, 2015. While the Naga people appreciate the GoI for recognizing the historical and political rights of the Nagas by signing the FA, the matter should not end there, it said on Sunday while calling for the 12-hour closure.
The NSCN (IM) stated that the FA was the fruition of gruelling rounds of discussions to set the Indo-Naga political talks on a firm footing in order to take the Naga issue towards an honourable and acceptable solution for both the parties. “Now the time has come again calling upon the Government of India to open the door for executing the FA with all honesty and not resort to misinterpretation to suit its own convenience,” it added.
Recounting how the GoI represented by K Padmanabhaiah formally recognized the unique history and situation of the Naga people in Amsterdam on July 11, 2002; it said that this official recognition became a matter of political exigency as demanded by the situation. It recalled that after more than 10 years since the official recognition, the talks reached a ‘deadlock-like situation.’ “The stand of the GoI was – ‘solution within the parameter of the Indian Constitution and Union of India’, whereas the stand of the Nagas was-‘nothing to do with India, nothing short of total independence and total sovereignty.’” This was followed by a long series of talks, after which the GoI proposed the Framework Agreement as a formula of ‘win-win solution,’ the NSCN (IM) stated.
It said that the signing of the FA was a cause of jubilation not only among the BJP/RSS and other political parties but also the Naga people as it was “the meeting point of the two sovereign peoples” and serves the purposes of both the parties. It said it would be a great loss “if they betray the Framework Agreement and prioritize the modified 16-Point Agreement. And they will miss the golden chance of Naga solution that is honourable and acceptable to both India and Naga people.”
While stating that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had shown confidence and pride in signing the FA, the NSCN (IM) said it will see if Modi will live up to his high profile Framework Agreement speech. It added that for all practical purposes, Modi, “in order to find lasting Naga solution will have to look through the prism of the Framework Agreement and no other way.”
The NSCN (IM) further stated that the FA should be brought back under the direct supervision of Prime Minister Modi for his final perusal and follow up action. “There is no point talking with the officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), GoI as the informal talk is leading to nowhere other than beating around the bush,” it underscored.
Further, referring to its recent meeting with the Core Committee set up by the Nagaland Legislative Assembly, it said that the NSCN (IM) team led by General Secretary Th Muivah reiterated that the FA would be the basis of final solution as it is inclusive of everything to make the Naga solution honourable and acceptable to both the parties.
“It was for this reason that NSCN has steadfastly guarded FA not to allow the Government of India to make any strategic diversion under any pretext. Unity of the Naga people should also be based on the Framework Agreement to safe guard the sanctity of the Naga political history that was built through blood, sweat and tears,” it maintained.
Reiterating that the FA “is the best formula to establish a new relationship for peaceful coexistence of the two entities (India and Nagalim) on the basis of shared sovereignty which signifies that the Nagas are sovereign people,” the NSCN (IM) stated that “neither economic packages nor imposed political packages will bring about lasting solution.”
The NSCN (IM) asserted that the Naga national flag and Yehzabo (Constitution) represents the political identity of the Nagas and without them, “everything discussed and agreed upon shall be nullified.” It reiterated that, “The Naga history is very clear before the world as the Nagas had not surrendered their sovereignty nor decided to join the Indian Union.” The NSCN (IM) affirmed its determination to stick to the FA to “usher in permanent peace and development not only in Nagalim, but in the whole Northeast region.”
