Fed-Up Nagas gives Centre three months to implement Naga political agreements, warning of civil disobedience over continued delays.
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DIMAPUR — Setting a three-month deadline for the implementation of Naga political agreements, the youth-led Fed-Up Nagas movement on Saturday warned of a civil disobedience and non-cooperation movement if the Centre failed to honour its commitments, drawing a large turnout to its public rally at Agri Expo, 4th Mile, Chümoukedima.
Held on the theme ‘Hear the Youth. Honour the Truth,’ the rally called for immediate implementation of the Framework Agreement of 2015 and the Agreed Position of 2017, with speakers maintaining that agreements reached in good faith should no longer remain in prolonged uncertainty.
Addressing the gathering, Convenor of the Working Committee of Naga National Political Groups (WC-NNPG), N Kitovi Zhimomi, said that the youth-led movement had renewed public attention to the long-pending Naga political issue.
He admitted that he had initially been sceptical of the initiative, believing it would lose momentum like several earlier civil society campaigns, but said he changed his mind after witnessing the commitment of the organisers. He thanked the youth for taking the initiative to press for an early political settlement, saying the movement reflected the aspirations of a generation seeking peace, progress and certainty for the future.
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Warning of the growing crisis of educated unemployment, Zhimomi said that even as technological advancement had transformed Nagaland, employment opportunities had failed to keep pace. He argued that an early political settlement was essential to unlock economic opportunities and prevent further migration of educated youth from the state.
Tracing the negotiations under the Agreed Position, Zhimomi recollected that the Working Committee entered into talks after the government of India recognised the historical and political rights of the Nagas and their right to determine their future in consonance with their distinct identity.
He claimed that the negotiated proposals included strengthening the provisions of Article 371A by expanding protections over land and both natural and man-made resources, including petroleum, natural gas, fossil fuels, mines and minerals.
He added that the proposals also envisaged greater political representation, enhanced security infrastructure, educational institutions, research centres and major infrastructure projects aimed at generating employment and accelerating Nagaland's development after the implementation of the political settlement.
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According to Zhimomi, negotiations under the Agreed Position concluded on October 31, 2019, and there was no justification for the continued delay in implementing the settlement.
Questioning the prolonged stalemate, he said that it was necessary to identify whether the delay stemmed from the government of India, the negotiating parties or another stakeholder.
He also alleged that conflicting narratives surrounding the Framework Agreement and the Agreed Position had created confusion among the public, particularly over whether the agreements fell within or outside the Constitution of India.
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Urging people to rely on the contents of the negotiated documents rather than propaganda, Zhimomi claimed that only a small section opposed an early political settlement. He further asserted that Nagaland's natural resources should be utilised to create employment and develop institutions such as medical and engineering colleges within the state rather than benefiting others.
Outlining what he described as three immediate priorities, Zhimomi said that efforts should be made to end the culture of underground taxation, identify those allegedly obstructing the political settlement and ensure that oil exploration does not proceed before the implementation of the final political agreement.
Addressing the rally, Fed-Up Nagas committee member Kuhoto Naga traced the history of the Naga political movement from the formation of the Naga Club in 1918 and its memorandum to the Simon Commission in 1929 to the signing of the Framework Agreement in 2015 and the Agreed Position in 2017.
Although political negotiations concluded in 2019, he said, the agreements remain unimplemented, leaving many young Nagas frustrated. "We are not against any Naga political group or organisation. We are not signatories to these agreements, yet we are the ones suffering because of the continued delay," he said.
Kuhoto urged the government of India to publicly clarify its position on both agreements, announce a time-bound roadmap for implementation, engage transparently with all Naga stakeholders and avoid prolonging the peace process through endless consultations.
He said that the movement had emerged from growing unemployment, uncertainty and the lack of opportunities, stressing that it was driven not by personal interests but by concern for the future of Nagaland.
Appealing for unity, he called on all Naga political groups, civil society organisations and community leaders to work together for an early political settlement. He added that if the existing agreements could not be implemented, stakeholders should present an alternative roadmap, while assuring that the youth would continue their campaign through peaceful democratic means.
A memorandum addressed to Union Home Minister Amit Shah was read out by Hiketo Naga during the rally. It demanded the implementation of the signed political agreements within three months from June 27, stating that they represented both the settled will of the Naga people and the solemn commitment of the government of India.
The memorandum stated that repeated delays and missed deadlines had eroded public confidence and warned that if the Centre failed to act within the stipulated period, the movement would launch a civil disobedience and non-cooperation campaign.
The NSCN (IM) and the MB Neokpao Konyak-Alezo Venuh faction of the WC-NNPG, both listed in the programme as speakers, did not attend the rally.