Kohima, August 19 (MExN): In what it termed as “treacherous,” the Naga Hoho today joined others in condemning the actions of the eight Naga Members of Manipur Legislative Assembly (MLA) who “declared to support and protect the integrity of Manipur State.”
“It is a betrayal and have disregarded the aspirations of the Naga people and have also callously jeopardized the very identity and future of the Nagas,” the Naga Hoho asserted in a statement.
“In an act of utter disdain for the collective will of the Naga community, these 8 Naga MLAs have inexplicably joined hands with 32 Meiteis MLAs to forward a representation to the Prime Minister of India without any meaningful consultation with the Naga civil society organizations (CSOs), which are the true representatives of the Naga people,” it said.
The appalling move clearly demonstrates the MLAs’ disregard for the political aspirations of the Nagas, lack of vision, and an abhorrent ignorance of the historical struggle that our people have endured, it added.
The Naga Hogo further charged the aforesaid legislators of putting their “personal interests and political survival above the well-being and aspirations of the Naga people who entrusted them with their votes.”
“Instead of championing the cause of the Nagas and safeguarding our rightful place in history, these Naga MLAs have chosen to pander to certain sections of society and political leaders to secure their own seats of power,” it claimed.
“The Naga Hoho stands firm in its conviction that these Naga MLAs do not hold the moral authority to claim representation of the Nagas at this juncture,” it added.
Meanwhile, the Naga Hoho asserted that “not even an inch of the Naga territory should be used as a battleground of ethnic conflict or for any other purposes by outsiders with vested interests without the explicit authorisation of the Nagas.”
The Naga Hoho remains resolute in its commitment to preserve and defend the historical and traditional land of the Nagas, it said, adding that it would firmly “oppose any attempt by outsiders within the ancestral Naga territory to assert proprietary rights over the land through the manipulation of historical narratives.”
