Naga people nothing in common with India — Adinno Phizo

Our Correspondent
Kohima, May 16 (EMN): The president of the Naga National Council Adinno Phizo has iterated the unique cultural and political nature of the Naga people. She was addressing a programme that was observed by the NNC to mark the 67th anniversary of ‘Naga Plebiscite Day’ on Wednesday at the Peace Camp in Chedema, Kohima district.
“We are a nation by our own right, not given to us by others. Nagas are living in their own country- no connection with India at any time. Nagas are not demanding anything from India, the bargaining is not there.”
While being thankful to God for guiding the Naga people all the time, Phizo referred to India and said, ‘They always wanted to show the outside world that something to compromise between India and Nagaland in all these years. The strange thing is that no honest Indian among a billion people.”
Reiterating that there is no common history between Nagaland and India, Adinno therefore, maintained that ‘to term our situation as “political problem” is wrong. She told the gathering that ‘almost one hundred percent’ of people had declared not to join India in the Naga ‘voluntary plebiscite’ which took place on May 16 1951.
Though Nagas are living in their own country, Phizo pointed out that the Indian government still was not withdrawing her army from Nagaland. Instead, it repeatedly imposes the infamous Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) of 1958 and ‘surrounds Nagaland till today.’
She said “We know we are a small nation but a big nation bullying a small one cannot be worthy of its stature.”
Terming the ‘Framework agreement’ which was signed on August 3, 2015 as ‘not a good sign,’ she alleged that the Indian government was using the NSCN-IM to bring division. She asserted further that some of them have very little knowledge about Naga history but have made them agree to have a ‘framework agreement’ for more than two years and kept it a secret.
On the issue of Naga-inhabited areas, Phizo said, ‘It is not a question of Naga integration that some people make it politics at present, where you can lose your right.’ As far as Nagaland is concerned, she asserted, “They are Nagas and will continue to be Nagas because they are not in disputed area where others can claim it. But they are Nagas all the time. No controversy.”
Remembering the people who laid down their lives in the hands of the Indian armed forces, Adinno was thankful that the ‘Nagas are alive today ‘ and that their sacrifices brought ‘normal life to our people today,’ which she said should be remembered always.