Dimapur, Sep. 6 (EMN): NSCN (IM) has alleged the coordinated attempt of collusion by the Indian intelligence agencies and the Home Ministry officials to create ‘confusion, division as well as to create fear psychosis and threat perception within the Nagas.’
NSCN (IM), in a statement issued by its MIP, has lashed out at certain known and unknown professional figures which it described as ‘propagandists’ for selecting a timing by targeting its general secretary Th. Muivah and NSCN at a time when informal talks between the government of India represented by Intelligence Bureau (IB) team and the NSCN are going on in Delhi on a day-to-day basis. NSCN (IM) has accused the propagandists of attempting to create insecurity, hatred and bigotry.
“The media has been pulled in to put pressure on NSCN by writing baseless but tormenting things about Naga chief negotiator Th. Muivah and other abhorrent things about the Naga solution,” the statement read. It however stated that the truth would never simply run away.
NSCN (IM) iterated that it was compelled to unleash a blistering attack against RN Ravi for his mischief on the Framework Agreement and other misdoings.
It claimed that shortly after informal talks started, known and unknown professional figures in media changed colour to sell themselves doing the bidding of the intelligence agency that have something to grind against NSCN. It added that the media market floated with distorted and manipulated stories and articles on Naga issue targeting NSCN and its chief negotiator Th. Muivah.
“The truth, however, cannot be sacrificed at the altar of a misinformation campaign launched against NSCN,” it maintained.
It accused Deepika Singh, who teaches Political Science at Delhi University, of using the media platform such as News18.com to write on Naga issue but ‘burnt her fingers’ when she went for the issue that was too big for her to handle.
“She was reckless from the word go as she went hammer and tongs against the NSCN general secretary and Naga chief negotiator Th. Muivah accusing him of playing tribal card to scuttle any peace deal following the talks that took place after the first Indo-Naga ceasefire on September 4, 1964. It is, however, understood beyond an iota of doubt that Deepika Singh simply went for the Naga issue without knowing the head and tails. But she will go nowhere if she desperately tried to magnify her professional image by using the Naga issue to score points,” it stated.
What provoked indignation, according to the NSCN (IM), was when she went far enough to ‘arrogate herself to touch on Naga issues for the pleasure of malicious fabrications.’
It went on to state that Shekhar Gupta, who is the editor-in-chief of The Print, was not new to the Naga political struggle. He had published an article calling Muivah a “past master at scuttling Naga peace deals” on tribal lines. It claimed that he was also grounded as his writing found no historical records to support his accusations against Muivah.
NSCN (IM) stated that all those baseless accusations against Muivah was nothing but malicious falsehood to further confuse the Naga people at this critical stage. It said Deepika Singh and Shekhar Gupta proved themselves as nothing more than ‘malicious mischief mongers.’
While stating that propaganda was also manufactured against the NSCN leaders of using the flag and constitution issues to derail and delay the solution for the Naga issue, it made it clear that flag and constitution are the heart and soul of the Naga political movement.
“Flag is the political identity of the Naga people and constitution tells of the Naga people as a nation and shows the way forward as a distinct people who would not give up their land in lieu of anything,” it asserted.
NSCN (IM) also stated that there are ‘wild media speculation that NSCN’s Chinese government connection is forcing the NSCN to go slow in negotiating with the government of India.’
“The same unpleasant situation created by Ravi last year when he set October 31 as deadline to seal the deal is being propagated by the media wherein it is mentioned that the deal may have to be signed by September 2020, even without NSCN. Such an unhealthy manner of conducting talks between two entities is against the spirit of Indo-Naga political peace process that has travails 23 years where mutual respect and consent has carried the talks all along,” NSCN (IM) stated.
According to the NSCN (IM), it is the settlement of the pending issues that matters and not the deadline that need not be in tearing hurry. NSCN (IM) stated that it is rather interpreted as ‘testing the nerve of NSCN as prodded by vested interests when informal talks are going on day-to-day basis with the IB team to smoothen the competencies.’
In the face of all those baseless accusations, NSCN (IM) stated that the ‘Naga people are no longer naive to such kind of manipulated media onslaught launched with venomous and divisive sting.’
In a separate statement, NSCN (IM) has lashed out at The Telegraph for sensationalising one particular sentence in its report by quoting the Nagalim Voice in its August 2020 editorial.
While the editorial stated that “They are still ready to fight another war if their political rights and history are not respected,” The Telegraph had reported quoting the NSCN (IM) that “Nagas ready for fresh war.”
NSCN has put on record that it stands for a peaceful solution of Indo-Naga political issue adding it was the reason how the second Indo-Naga ceasefire was brought about in 1997.
“But it is a matter of regret that the Government of India has failed to demonstrate the desired sincerity and commitment despite 23 years of peace talks,” the NSCN (IM) alleged.
It has urged the government of India to revisit the hard earned achievements of the Indo-Naga peace process and push forward in the desired direction to bring a solution that is honourable and acceptable to both the parties.
NSCN (IM) further regretted the ‘selective war mongering reportage’ of The Telegraph and has condemned it with all sincerity.