Core Committee on Naga political issue shouldn’t dilute Framework Agreement, says NSCN (IM)

Dimapur, June 11 (EMN): The NSCN (IM) on Friday said the Core Committee on Naga political issue constituted by the government of Nagaland should not dilute the spirit and substance of the Framework Agreement (FA), saying that it was signed after the government of India proposed it “as a formula of win-win solution” following a deadlock-like situation on the core issue of “constitution”.

The statement came close on the heels of the formation of a parliamentary committee, and core committee within it, by the state government to discuss matters related to the protracted Naga issue and play the role of facilitator in the ongoing peace talks between the government of India and the Naga political groups.

The NSCN (IM) stated that the talks had revolved around the FA with both parties taking care not to allow either side to take strategic advantage from the agreement.

“NSCN would welcome the formation of Core Committee as long as there is no attempt to dilute the spirit and substance of the Framework Agreement as mutually agreed upon by both the Government of India and National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN) as the final basis for Naga political solution,” read the press statement.

“However, ‘foot-in-mouth’ syndrome identified with the state BJP unit in Nagaland is already giving the Core Committee a bad picture before the work take off. No such committee is expected to bear fruits if historical reality is not taken into account,” it added.

The group went on to state that ‘if the BJP wants to solve the Naga political issue within the Indian Constitution, it should make its stand very clear if it takes cognizance of the Naga national movement with reference to the declaration of the Naga Independence in 1047 and the Naga Plebiscite in 1951’.

Maintaining that the Indo-Naga political history is marked by bloody blunder because of not consulting the main stakeholders (freedom fighters), the NSCN (IM) stated that the “Core Committee members should not overrate themselves or outdo its role at the cost of destroying the Naga political identity that NSCN has robustly protected throughout the two decades of talk with the Government of India” and repeat past mistakes.

The group also said some Naga intellectuals, political and public leaders add confusion in the minds of the masses by projecting Naga history incorrectly on TV or live debates on Zoom and cautioned them to “exercise restraint lest Naga political history is distorted”.

“All said and done, NSCN would be watchful of any traitorous approach to the Naga political issue that has been painstakingly guarded and taken this far at the cost of blood, sweats and tears,” the statement added.