Dimapur, June 29 (MExN): The present peace talks between the Government of India (GoI) and the two Naga groups are a way for the GoI to ‘play politics’ in Nagaland, according to the Naga National Council (NNC).
Presenting the NNC’s stand on the present situation with regard to the Indo-Naga political issue in a press release on Wednesday, NNC Joint Secretary Acüyi Vadeo stated that at present, the Framework Agreement and the Agreed Position has caused confusion among many Nagas. While the Naga people are “watching which group would be heavier when the two groups are weighed by the GoI,” it said, some politicians, civil set up organisations as well as clergymen have been taking sides in order to give weightage to their either of the two negotiating groups.
Elaborating further, the release stated that one group had demanded sovereignty and integration at first, but after being flatly rejected by the GoI, they are demanding Flag and constitution with some competencies, making the Naga people ‘curious to know the content.’ “That ball is now with GoI; whether to grant or not, is a question,” it said.
“So, also the other group having peace talk with GoI seems to be in the last part of inking after the agreed position was made. Earlier they speak only Nagas of Nagaland State, but now their slogan seems to change (Sic),” it said, adding that the question here is “When will it be done?”
In this context, the NNC urged the Naga people “not to be confused on the present Naga peace talks and know that India is playing politics with them.”
As for the NNC and the Federal Government of Nagaland (FGN), the NNC underscored that it did not demand anything from the GoI as “Indo-Naga conflict is a case of forceful aggression and that India should know and quit Nagaland.”
“Nagas are not Indians and Nagaland is not in India territory. History is very clear and so,” it asserted.
Stating that Nagas believed that the conflict between the two nations would be amicably settled in peaceful ways and means, it said that the Nagas ‘in good sense’ have been asking India to leave from Nagaland.
Making its position clear, the NNC stated that Nagas declared its independence one day before India, adding “when we are not Indians, how then shall we demand our sovereignty from our aggressor India.”
Referring to the British rule in India, the NNC maintained that the British first came in contact with the Nagas when they intruded the Nagas country in the year 1832. Since then there were intermittent warfare between the Nagas and the British lasting 48 years during which the Nagas valiantly and relentlessly defended their country.
“Thus, the British sought for peace with the Nagas. Thereby, a verbal agreement was arrived at between the two peoples (British and Naga), Where the Nagas allowed the British to stay in their land provided they do not interfere in the affairs of Naga tradition and social life,” it maintained.
According to the NNC, the Nagas had made their sovereignty known to India as well as the United Nations Organisation (UNO) on August 14, 1947 and also conducted voluntary plebiscite on May 16, 1951 to “show our unity and position as a nation” which was informed to the GoI and the UNO. Stating that the Nagas formed the FGN on March 22, 1956, it underlined that “Nagas have our own Flag and Constitution from the beginning itself. We are a Nation and we need no permission from any other foreign country.”
The NNC went on to state that “Indians should be ashamed in describing the Nagas as the oldest insurgency group in India” as Nagas are “defending our land and its people and not fighting with Indians.”
To buttress its point, it also quoted various leaders including Jawaharlal Nehru, Mahatma Gandhi, C Rajagopalachari, and Field Marshal Gen Cariappa, stating that these leaders of India had “honestly stated the uniqueness of the Nagas that the Nagas have full liberty to stay as an Independent Nation basing on the historical right.”
It further stated that the 16 Point Agreement and Shillong Accord are being used as “Indian weapons” to confuse the young Naga people, and alleged that “till today the Indians are always trying to evade the truth which they can no longer conceal.”
“When our people realized and know the truth, then there is always ways to do what we should do. It may take years but Nagas will surely be as a free nation,” it said, while asserting that the Nagas would “never submit our right to the aggressor” no matter how powerful they may be.
