Speech by T Naga, President of GPRN/NNC (Apex Body), on the occasion of Naga Independence Day.
My dear Naga countrymen,
On this auspicious occasion of the 14th of August, 2026, as we commemorate the 80th Naga Independence Day, I convey my greetings to you in the name of our Almighty God.
Ever since the NNC made the historic declaration of Naga Independence on 14th August 1947, a day ahead of India's Independence, the day had been marked by political suppression and military aggression from both India and Myanmar until today, but we continue to strive ever stronger, and the landmark Naga Plebiscite of 1951 that gave a complete mandate in favour of Naga Independence, (yet) India has shown total disregard for the Naga aspiration. India's refusal to recognise that mandate has resulted in a total war of liberation and prolonged conflict.
For more than seven decades, this unending cycle of conflict has taken a heavy toll on the Nagas. No aspects of Naga life have remained unaffected by this bloodiest of conflicts.
Nagaland State was conceived with the hope of putting an end to the "Naga Movement" in the Naga Hills. It instead ended up creating a paradoxical situation from within. “Nagaland for Christ” is the portion of land God has given us. We must possess it and defend it at all costs.
Nagas must understand that when it comes to the settlement of the Naga issue, the Government of India has never pursued an honest policy. Instead, it engages in dividing the Nagas along the lines of the colonial legacy of "Divide and Rule". Drawing artificial territorial boundaries and placing Nagas under different administrative units has been India's most effective strategy to divide us.
Amidst the conflict that has torn our community into factions, New Delhi's policy of holding talks with one group while isolating another has only promoted mutual mistrust among Naga groups.
The Historical Framework Agreement of 3rd August 2015 and the Agreed Position of 17th November 2017 are significant milestones. They are not small achievements. The commitments contained in these agreements must now be honoured in letter and in spirit, so that we may arrive at a final, honourable and negotiated political settlement.
What our people demand today is sincerity, political will, and the courage to remove all roadblocks to peace and dignity. On this sacred day, I give thanks to Almighty God for the extraordinary patience of our people and for their unwavering resilience in defending our sovereign identity against all odds.
The verdict of history is clear, and it will remain on the side of Nagas, as long as we remain faithful to our historic commitment to secure our sovereign and inalienable right over our ancestral homeland.
The seven-decade long Naga struggle has also proven to mankind that any nation or people, like the Nagas, who have the courage to stand for their rights and fight for them, will never be condemned by history. No power on Earth can stop the moving wheels of the Nagas. Therefore, let us humble ourselves before our Creator; to dedicate, to reaffirm, to honour and to serve with outmost faithfulness for the nation cause. So that, the future generation will have a story to tell as we, the Nagas emerge victorious indeed.
God Bless Nagalim! Kuknalim
T. Naga
President, GPRN/NNC (Apex Body)