NSCN (IM) justifies recruitment drive
Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network
Dimapur, November 25 2019:
The NSCN-IM on Monday said Naga youths willing to join the "Naga National service" out of their own conviction does not violate the Ceasefire Ground Rules (CFGR) .
"They are not being forced by any local authority or NSCN," NSCNIM said in a statement.
The NSCN-IM was reacting to a press statement issued by the PRO (Defence) Lt Col Sumit Sharma.
Reports in Dimapur based newspapers quoting the PRO said that the "Army and the Assam Rifles" foiled a major recruitment bid of the NSCNIM in Mon district of Nagaland State .
Reacting, the NSCN-IM said that ever since the Naga political movement started more than seventy (70) years ago, the passion to serve the "Naga Nation" has been growing steadily and spontaneously among the Naga youths because the Indo-Naga political issue matters to them.
"It matters to them because it is a question of redefining Naga's political identity," said the NSCN-IM.
According to the NSCNIM, it is a question of protecting Naga's historical and political rights.
"Thus, it is a question of Nagas' pride as a Nation," said the NSCN-IM.
"This is the reason why young people, irrespective of their education level continue to be motivated to find their way to NSCN camps and other political groups", it added.
According to the NSCNIM, this is in reference to the press note issued by the PRO (Defence) Lt Col Sumit Sharma that said "Covert recruitment racket of NSCN (IM) busted in Mon on November 21, 2019" as appeared in various newspapers on November 25 .
"This is a misplaced statement against the NSCN and goes against the historical
right and reality as testified in the past many years," said the NSCN-IM.
According to the outfit, Naga people's zeal to serve the political cause of the Naga Nation should not be undermined and contaminated in such a manner.
"The sanctity of the dearest Naga
political issue will stand strong to inspire Naga youths, no matter how much effort is put in by the Assam Rifles and Indian Army personnel to give a different color," it added.