Dimapur, September 20 (MExN): The Working Committee, Naga National Political Groups (WC, NNPGs) today reiterated its position on oil exploration in Nagaland by citing the ‘Agreed Position’ it signed with Government of India (GoI).
The ‘Agreed Position’ of November 17, 2017 and subsequent negotiated ‘Status Paper’ “make it absolutely clear on the status of natural resources of Nagaland below the surface and above,” stated the WC, NNPGs in a press release.
“Therefore, as and when political Agreement is inked, natural resources including fossil fuels will be explored, extracted and utilised for the benefit of Naga people,” it added.
Accordingly, the Working Committee asserted that “oil and gas companies disrespecting the collective decision of the Nagas on natural resources will be held responsible for any step taken by Nagas.”
It further conveyed its firm stance that “fossil fuels in Naga homeland is not meant for 50/50 sharing with oil companies or states.”
Exploration, extraction and utilisation of natural resources must be considered only when genuine stakeholders deem it absolutely essential, with full understanding of the generational benefits, the WC, NNPGs contended.
“Revenue money to be pocketed by few or to repay state's irresponsible, atrociously accumulated yearly deficits, is not in the interest of the real stakeholders,” it added.
Giving a context to the reaffirmation of its position, the WC, NNPGs pointed out to a statement eight Naga employees of a “premier oil & gas E&P Maharatna Company” based in Duliajan, Assam” published on September 12.
According to the WC, NNPGs, the statement dwelled on the short-term benefit of oil exploration in Naga areas currently disputed by Assam.
However, it noted that “employees, in any company, can never talk beyond their profit margin and therefore the owner's perspective is sorely absent.”
Oil and natural gas, to the Naga people, is a historical and political subject. The identity of the Nagas is involved, WC, NNPGs asserted.
The GoI has understood the Indo-Naga conflict vis-a-vis land and its resources and this facet is beyond quick contractual money and few hundred jobs in the drilling infrastructure, it added.
To this end, the WC, NNPGs opined that the Indo-Naga political negotiations touch on all pertinent matters.
“GoI will, sooner than later, respect Naga political and historical rights, their identity and aspiration, ushering in enduring peace and co-existence. Indo Naga political settlement is the only long-term solution to all political, social and economic problems,” it added.
This is not the first time the WC, NNPGs has taken such a stance. In April 2023, it demanded that the Nagaland Chief Minister withdraws from any Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with Assam for oil exploration.
In August, it stated that Naga tribes “must oppose tooth and nail all attempts to conduct oil exploration in Nagaland.”
