Dimapur, April 27 (MExN): The NSCN (IM) on Tuesday took exception to individuals other than the Prime Minister of India making critical statements on the Naga national flag, and stated that the Naga political issue cannot be undermined “by giving the Union Home Minister a freewheeling power to make a meaningless statement bereft of political drive towards Naga political solution.”
Earlier on April 24, speaking at the 29th Biennial General Conference of the Angami Students’ Union (ASU), the CM had stated that Union Home Minister Amit Shah had categorically made it clear that Nagas could use their flag anywhere besides government and Indian union buildings or events. As for a separate constitution, Rio said Shah had asserted that it could be worked out with the help of experts only after the solution.
The NSCN (IM) recounted how the Indo-Naga Ceasefire was officially declared on August 1, 1997 after it set the terms “very loud and clear” that the Government of India (GoI) must agree to recognize the Naga issue as political and stop terming it as India’s ‘Internal Law and Order Issue’.
It was agreed that the political dialogue would be at “the highest level, i.e. Prime Minister Level; without pre-condition and outside in a third country,” the NSCN (IM) stated.
Referring to Union Home Minister’s statement, the NSCN (IM) said that somebody other than the Prime Minister of India making “critical statement on crucially important issue like the Naga National Flag is like wrecking the Indo-Naga Ceasefire agreement at the wrong time because agreement on this particular issue is deeply linked to signing the agreement for Naga political solution.”
“This is nothing less than a terrible sense of humorous insult to the Naga people,” it added and questioned how somebody in a high position could have the “temerity” of playing with “sentimental issues that are inseparable for Naga political solution.”
The NSCN (IM) further termed it ‘preposterous’ for the GoI to disallow Naga flag to be used in government offices and establishments but only to be used as a “merry-making item in cultural functions.”
It stated that it would be a pleasure for the Nagas to welcome anyone to hoist and fly the Naga flag in Naga soil but “not in the manner to belittle the Naga political issue,” and stressed that Nagas “are never going to tolerate this kind of irresponsible” statement.
Further it stated that The Nagas would not ‘sell the Naga flag’ for the sake of hastening Naga solution. It put on record that Nagas are not asking permission from GoI to fly the Naga National Flag but “are simply reiterating our stand that GoI should not obstruct in the usage of our flag which is our honour and political identity.”
The Framework Agreement of August 3, 2015 entered the crucial agreement of the need to coexist peacefully between the two entities with shared sovereignty between India and Nagas; it said. The NSCN (IM) further assured the Nagas not to be perturbed by the unilateral statement of the Union Home Minister when no bilateral decision has come about yet.
“Crucial outcome of the Indo-Naga political talks are to be made with the consent of the two parties with the full knowledge and blessing of the Prime Minister and not necessarily by the Ministry of Home Affairs, GoI which is not the authorized platform to make any official statement on Naga political solution at this critical stage,” it concluded.
