Nagas never consented to be part of Indian Union, says Achumbemo Kikon

KOHIMA — Nagas have never consented to be a part of the Indian Union when India was being formed, and therefore “calling us insurgents is totally wrong and we will not accept such terminology labelled against us,” said Achumbemo Kikon, MLA and former president of Naga Students’ Federation (NSF), during the federation’s 79th Foundation Day celebration on Wednesday at NSF Oking, Naga Solidarity Park, Kohima.

Kikon recalled that the NSF was formed in 1947 to protect the rights, promote the values, and safeguard the interests of Naga people. Though primarily a student platform, he said that the organisation was established at a time when the elders were undergoing immense suffering, prompting the formation of a body to defend the Naga cause.

He expressed concern that today’s youngsters, “just because they have computers and phones, lie comfortably at home and write whatever they like” without understanding the hardships endured by earlier generations. He lamented that many have forgotten their history and that some youths “do not even know where we come from, yet freely comment on issues they don’t understand.”

Kikon urged the younger generation to learn about the Naga struggle and the long journey towards self-determination, even after Nagaland attained statehood in 1963. He reminded that “many Nagas remain outside the jurisdiction of the state,” underscoring the need for continued unity and awareness.

On whether Nagas should celebrate August 14 as Naga Independence Day, Kikon replied, “Yes, because we have not done it secretly. We declared it before the Father of the Indian nation, and therefore it is morally correct and should also be legally acceptable under international law.”

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He accused the government of India of giving “step-motherly treatment” to Nagaland, citing developmental neglect and the change of “Restricted Area Permit” to “Prohibited Area Permit” (PAP). He clarified that the Inner Line Permit (ILP) applies to Indian citizens entering Nagaland, while PAP is for foreigners. “The government of India has imposed many restrictions on those wishing to visit our homeland. This is how we are treated, even after becoming a full-fledged state,” he said.

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Kikon also highlighted the proposed fencing of Naga areas and the division of Naga lands without the people’s consent. “Such things cannot be allowed,” he declared, urging every individual—not just political groups—to rise in defence of Naga rights. “If the younger generation understands history correctly, our future is safe, and we can march on,” he asserted.

‘No solution will satisfy Nagas now’

Neingulo Krome, secretary-general of Naga Peoples’ Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR), reflected on the long-standing partnership between NPMHR and NSF. He recounted the suffering of the Naga people before the 1997 ceasefire, marked by protests and daily killings.

He said that after the ceasefire, there was a “paradigm shift” in thinking, and various organisations—including NSF and NPMHR—worked tirelessly to make peace efforts succeed. However, he lamented that “success got to the heads of some leaders,” leading to divisions and the formation of multiple tribal councils and factions.

“Every Naga leader talks about unity for solution, but how can they unite when they cannot differentiate between good and bad?” he questioned.

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Krome opined that after nearly three decades of ceasefire, “no solution will be satisfactory to the Naga public.” If a solution is reached in the form of an agreed position, he warned, “there will be more killings among Nagas and factions. If it fails, more killings will start either way. That is the situation we are in today.”

He cautioned that while leaders make decisions, “it is the young people who end up on the battlefields.” If another conflict arises, he said, “we must ensure that this time, it is the old men who stand in front, while the youth stay behind to safeguard the Naga future.”

In his presidential address, NSF president Mtsesuding paid homage to the founding members of the federation, whose ideals of truth, unity, and justice remain its cornerstone. He said that the dream of a united homeland would only be realised when the younger generation “dares to look beyond boundaries and embrace the truth that we are one people with one destiny.”