Dimapur, May 30 (MExN): The Working Committee, Naga National Political groups (NNPGs) has said that the “Nagas must insist, reassert and defend our land” as per Agreed Position of November 17, 2017 as it has “redefined the scope and parameters of Indo-Naga political negotiations.”
During the signing, the Government of India (GoI) acknowledged, “...GoI recognises the political and historical rights of the Nagas to self determine their future in consonance with their distinct identity...,” it maintained, while adding that the paragraph “dutifully honoured the Naga aspiration and echoed the immortal words of Mahatma Gandhi at Bhangi Colony spoken to NNC leaders in the month of July, 1947.”
“Within this document lay the very fabric of Naga Flag and all others, symbolic or otherwise. Despite the vigorous process of assimilation going on, WC, NNPGs have great belief that there is an opportunity for an early acceptable and honourable political solution that would pave the way for Nagas to salvage our ancient democracy, history and culture.
Nagas must insist, reassert and defend our land as per Agreed Position and then partner GoI for an enduring peaceful co-existence,” it stated in a press release issued through its Media Cell.
The WC, NNPGs also took a swipe at the NSCN (IM), quoting a passage, purportedly from the Framework Agreement signed between latter and the Government of India. “...It is a matter of great satisfaction that the dialogue between the Government of India and NSCN have successfully concluded..." (FA 3rd Aug 2015) Why haven't this great satisfaction been shared with the Nagas till date? Did the propaganda campaign misled GoI in 2015? Where is the post settlement political and administrative structure if it has successfully concluded?” it posed.
It further maintained that there have been two mutually beneficial agendas at work in the 25 years of ceasefire and dialogue— “Assimilation and Indianisation of Nagaland” and “Amassing wealth of Nagaland.”
In the first instance, it claimed that the GoI had “utilised the time and energy to assimilate Naga people, their identity, history, culture and their ancestral land, primarily Nagaland state, into a ‘pressure cooker’ social and economic pandemonium,” It went on to claim that in the name of political dialogue, “the GoI has facilitated southern Naga IM leaders to extort our people and utilize much of Nagaland's money” and accumulate wealth for over three decades. “It is very easy to hide behind powerful slogans like greater Nagalim, flag, constitution etc., to soak in the wealth of Nagaland for few more decades.”
Terming it as a “mutually beneficial drama,” the WC, NNPGs maintained that the “Grim reality and visible catastrophe staring at Nagaland and all Nagas cannot be prevented by wrapping oneself cozy in extra large Naga flag, unwritten Naga constitution or Naga integration. These elements will be most precious and desirable if Naga tribes rely on practical aspect rather than be a slave to sentiment and emotion.”
