DIMAPUR, FEBRUARY 8: As campaigning for the February 27 polls in Nagaland picks up, the Working Committee (WC) of the Naga National Political Groups (NNPGs) today declared that Indian elections cannot finish the spirit of Naga nationalism.
“Elections have never destroyed or dampened the Naga political rights and aspirations. Every forced election in Nagaland will strengthen the Nagas to stand firm for their right. The GoI leadership run the risk of becoming world’s largest democracy failing in its commitment to end Indo-Naga political conflict through peaceful means. Unfortunately the culture of identifying the most crooked and corrupt regional politicians and enticing them to either join or ally with ruling BJP party, is on a steep rise”, the WC said in a statement issued today.
Stating that Naga people trusted Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi when in 2015 he announced that the Naga problem has been solved, the WC asked, “Where is the solution?”
“In 2018 elections, Naga people were sceptical but embraced the idea of “Election for Solution”. Five years down the line, although the negotiations have concluded, the GoI and the Nagaland State Government continue to play with the sentiment of the Naga people. The leadership Assembly elections will be held soon in Nagaland. Will the Naga people allow themselves to be fooled again?” it asked.
Recalling the declaration of Chief Minister of Nagaland that forming an opposition-less Government was solely to facilitate and hasten the Indo-Naga political solution, the statement reminded that in the late 2021 he (CM) has boldly claimed that removing former Governor of Nagaland, RN Ravi was a big achievement for UDA Government to expedite the ongoing Naga political problems.
“As it turned out, instead of facilitating Naga solution, a blatant deceitful game is being played out, offering crores in cash, SUVs such as Fortuners, Scorpios, Boleros to central messengers, political agents and prominent civil society leaders, to sow more division and kill the people’s consensus. Naga history will remember all active participants and their accomplices playing saboteur’s role to perfection”, it said.
Citing the United Nations Charter 1(2): “To develop friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples, and to take other appropriate measures to strengthen universal peace”, the WC said among all signed political accords, agreements and understandings between the Nagas and the Union of India in the last eight decades, the “Agreed Position” signed between GoI and WC NNPGs on November 17, 2017 is the only political document of the Naga people that has the UN charter 1(2) pertaining to “Right to self determination” of peoples.
It claimed that the “Agreed Position” and subsequent negotiated status paper between GoI and WC, NNPGs is very explicit. “It did not create confusion or diversion. It did not insert mischievous non political words or deficient historical chronology. The GoI, having accepted Naga position, recognised the political and historical right of the Nagas to self determine their future in consonance with their distinct identity. The Agreed Position, therefore, is clear and unambiguous as can be, in black and white, for a thousand years.
“Contemporary political realities denote a factual position that the Indo-Naga conflict is an unresolved conflict. It is also a reality that the GoI has installed a puppet State Government at Kohima, through periodic elections to enforce Indian political and administrative occupation of Naga homeland”, it said.
Stating that Naga issue is older than independent India, the WC, NNPGs, declared that it will continue to pursue what is historically and politically correct for the Naga people.
“Elections will not weaken or blot out Naga people’s quest for a just future”, it declared. (Page News Service)
