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Journalism of Courage
Now that the Nagaland Assembly elections are done and dusted, the Naga political question is back in focus, with the Governor expressing the need for its resolution one day, and the NSCN(IM) hitting out at the Central government the next day, alleging its “callous manner” of approaching the issue.
The latest NSCN(IM) comments were made by the outfit’s president, Q Tuccu, during his speech on the “44th Republic Day Celebration of the People’s Republic of Nagalim” on March 21 in Camp Hebron, organised by the parallel government declared by the NSCN(IM).
After decades of insurgency, a ceasefire agreement was reached between the NSCN(IM) — the largest rebel outfit in Nagaland — and the Union government in 1997. In 2015, a ‘Framework Agreement’ was signed between both parties to resolve the decades-long Naga political issue.
“Our political identity is well recognised and protected by this agreement. But in the years that followed, the Government of India started to fiddle with what has been agreed upon. Today, the fate of the Framework Agreement hangs in balance, as the commitment of the Government of India fluctuates wildly every now and then,” said Tuccu.
The primary point of contention has been the NSCN(IM)’s demand for a separate Naga flag and Constitution. The Union government separately signed a ‘Agreed Position’ with the Naga National Political Groups—a joint banner of seven armed outfits—in 2017.
“The absurdity of the situation regarding the Indo-Naga political talks is therefore, entirely the making of the Government of India, as its commitment to the Framework Agreement turned unsavoury with each passing day. All the way it is only bluff and bluster. No seriousness. This led us to the fact that the Government of India is planning clandestinely to strike the Nagas with all its state machinery. Thus, there is trust deficit on the part of the Government of India,” he said.
He also said a “survival strategy” would have to be worked out in case the talks fail. “This final showdown must be a battle to decide our future. The fight is going to be tough, but it is to be noted that ours is not a contest of strength, it is a matter of right and wrong, just and unjust,” he said.
One day before Tuccu made his statements, the need for the resolution of the Naga political issue was stressed by Governor La Ganesan while addressing the first session of the new Nagaland Legislative Assembly.
“The government is mindful of the long-standing unresolved Naga political issue, which has impacted every sphere of society and created hurdles, especially to the economy and progress of the state. Our people, the society at large, owing to the unique challenges and constraints created with the decades long unresolved political issue, have not been able to fully grow and realize the fullest potential that they would have otherwise… We need to hence resolve the Naga political issue at the earliest possible,” he said.
