DIMAPUR, MAY 27 (MExN): The NSCN (IM) today expressed concern at recent “outrageous” statements made by Nagaland BJP Ministers and NPF political leaders on the Naga political solution with reference to the Framework Agreement, Naga National Flag, Constitution and integration.
“Naga issue is something nobody wants to prolong. More so is the NSCN. Every single Naga people have had enough of torment connected to Naga issue and thus, the huge burden loaded on their heads.
Irrespective of who we are as individuals or party, we have to admit that Naga political issue is getting more sensitive by days and for many it is an extremely emotive experience to say the least,” a press release from the MIP of the NSCN (IM) stated.
It further advised against resorting to “derogatory outburst with rhetorical embellishments.” The Naga issue, it noted, is not something that has cropped up recently. “More than 6 decades of struggle at the cost of hundreds of thousand lives and loss of properties speaks volumes of why it continues to spit fire,” it added. It said that many of the Nagaland state BJP ministers and other party leaders are “not able to fully appreciate its complexities and intricacies involved and simply allowing themselves to be carried away by their election syndrome.”
It reiterated that the Naga solution should be an issue based solution “guided by the principle based movement that has lasted for over six decades.” While appreciating the enthusiasm shown by the state elected political leaders, the NSCN (IM) however observed that “it would be tantamount to over stepping their role as facilitators when they started jumping beyond their assigned role, making bewildering statement on Naga solution.”
Such statements, it added, will in no way help build the desired atmosphere as expected from them. “They should resist the temptation to go overboard and throw further confusion in this sensitive juncture,” it advised.
It meanwhile assured that the NSCN (IM) did not sign the Framework Agreement “without applying our political insight.” “We have been guided by our intuition to safeguard our sovereign rights and dignity as a people and as a nation. This is the reason why we have stood our ground and never for other vested interests as wrongly perceived and projected recklessly to jeopardize the sanctity of Naga issue,” it asserted.
The NSCN (IM) termed it “very amusing” that the Nagaland BJP Ministers and other party leaders are “spiting venom against the NSCN.” “NSCN signed the 1997 ceasefire to have meaningful political dialogue with the Government of India in order to establish lasting solution that is honourable and acceptable to the Naga people. Despite the deadlock like situation, NSCN stands for exploring every available means to find the meeting point towards Naga solution,” it said. It stated that mutual understanding and respect should be the driving force to take the stakeholders to the common ground.
The NSCN (IM) meanwhile wondered “if the loud rumble of the state BJP and NPF leaders is done with the blessing of their high command or the rumble is a mere reflection of an unstoppable juggernaut.” It meanwhile said that the NSCN (IM) “will not be cowed down into submission under the relentless campaigns to come to term with the centre, when it is way too short of coming up to the common target of honourable and acceptable settlement to both the parties.”
