The WC, NNPGs have accused the Naga People's Front (NPF) leadership of sabotaging the Indo-Naga political solution.
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The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Government in New Delhi, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, has a committed stand on the Indo-Naga issue. BJP came to power in 2014, Mr. R.N Ravi, former Dy. NSA was assigned as the interlocutor on Naga political talks. He signed “Framework agreement” with the NSCN(IM) on 03rd August 2015, and signed “Agreed Position” with the Working Committee, Naga National Political Groups (WC, NNPGs) on 17th November 2017, announcing successful conclusion of the talks, setting parameters for political negotiations, after nearly two years of negotiations, the status paper came out in the public domain. These are undeniable facts.
The Naga People's Front (NPF) leadership, erstwhile NDPP, has always been uncomfortable with all these developments. They claim to be facilitators in words yet they have always played the role of active saboteurs. The devil lies in the details.
(1) On June 2017, the Honourable Prime Minister of India invited the Naga village headmen and chieftains, the Nagaland Gaon Bura Federation (NGBF) to New Delhi to seek the opinion of Village
custodians at the grassroots level. On the eve of their departure, the NPF (then NDPP) leadership summoned the village headmen, rebuked and advised them against meeting the honourable Prime Minister of India, saying they should exercise their authority in the villages and not in New Delhi. The NGBF members were respectful despite the insult; they made the journey anyway, met the Prime Minister of India and pleaded for an early inclusive, honourable, acceptable and practical solution. The GoI is clear that NGBF is made up of authentic pre-British era institutional representatives in Nagaland and, as they say, the rest is history. Article 371(a) finds its outlet and legitimacy from Gaon Buras (GBs) who are independent of government on customary matters, land and resources. By tradition, Village chieftains/GBs/headmen, can prevent entry or toss out habitual liars, including the elected legislators, from their village jurisdiction for offences ranging from cheating, embezzlement of village funds or for disrespecting centuries-old village traditions and practices. GBs, for many Naga tribes, are hereditary and beyond the government's influence. This is real silent power at the grassroots level. The NPF-led state government is therefore trying its best to curtail and dismantle the traditional power and authority of GBs with fickle labelling of GBs as government employees and extension of the home department. Evidently, NPF leadership has lost the trust of the people on the ground.
(2) The NPF leadership campaigned for and sought Mr. RN Ravi’s removal from the interlocutor ship. On September 22, 2021, he stepped down. The NPF leadership claimed R.N Ravi's removal was the first achievement of the new PDA government. It was, in reality, an act of sabotage. The deed of Anti-solution elements. Naga history records this as political treachery.
(3) Former GoI representative Mr. A.K Mishra and current representative Mr. Ajit Lal, too, have contributed and continues to take the process forward. It is most unfortunate that the NPF leadership, who call themselves as facilitators, are now demanding a political figure to resume the Indo-Naga political process. Facilitators cannot demand such arrangements especially when negotiations have concluded.
All former and current GoI interlocutors and representatives are distinguished retired IPS officers and bureaucrats with impeccable political knowledge. They are trusted and endorsed by GoI political leadership to seek an honourable solution to the Naga issue. The wheels, nuts and bolts seem to have come off the oldest regional party. Only hard-core anti Indo-Naga political solution cohorts can suggest such an idea. This is sabotage!
(4) Is it wrong on the part of thousands of hungry, weeping, angry jobless, fed-up educated youth to raise their voices, wishing to be listened to and be comforted while willing to die to overcome their hopelessness? The NPF leadership has taken parliamentary etiquette to a new low by mocking and ridiculing the “FED UP NAGAS”. A legislator had the audacity to call out Fed Up Nagas, by their very name, as a group with ulterior motives. Such insensitive remarks betray people's trust. Fed Up Nagas is a grim satire on how the regional party’s rule has destroyed Naga generations for decades. A cracked mirror reflecting the state of mismanagement. The angry and frustrated thousands of educated Naga youth want answers. It is high time to encourage and promote the younger generation and educated Naga youths to venture out with broader perspective and rise to meet the global standard rather than pressing young ones at their home without any hope for their future. To them and all Nagas, an acceptable and honourable political solution is the only answer.
(5) The 11th June 2026 MOU on Oil exploration signed by Nagaland CM, Assam CM and Petroleum ministry is outrightly rejected. The Naga political negotiators categorically declare that they have not entrusted any entity/party to sign MOU with any state or company with regard to exploration, extraction and transportation of crude oil and other natural resources from ancestral Naga homeland. It is a negotiated subject matter between GoI and Naga negotiators. Only an acceptable and honourable political solution will enable the first barrel of oil to be extracted. A facilitator in the on-going political talks cannot sign an MOU on mineral resources belonging to the people of Nagaland. By signing the so-called MOU is just to hijack and undermine the economy and ruin the life line of the people of Nagaland for personal gain/benefits. The Disturbed Area Belt (DAB) cannot remain unresolved forever. A clear, demarcated boundary between Nagaland and Assam must first be drawn as agreed in principle during the political negotiations. The Nagaland and Assam governments must first facilitate and resolve the Indo-Naga issue based on the Agreed Position, to implement the MOU of 11th June 2026. Till such time, MoUs, Joint ventures, profit sharing by business entities in the name of governments will be confronted. To siphon off people's wealth in connivance with oil companies is to sabotage the Naga political solution. The core matters of political negotiations and agreed terms must not be violated. This position is in line with the past decisions of the apex Naga tribal hohos, student bodies, village headmen and the general public.
A partner to NPF in the opposition less government, the BJP leadership in Nagaland has, from time to time, declared their desire for an acceptable and honourable political solution in line with the Naga people's aspirations. The Prime Minister of India and Home minister have consistently reiterated their desire for permanent peace through honourable and acceptable political solution. As facilitators, Nagaland BJP leadership is expected to play politics of honourable solution and not otherwise. Naga interest is paramount.
Issued by:
Media Cell, WC, NNPGs