'Creation of Nagaland state treacherous act'
16 Point Agreement divided Nagas.: NSCN (IM)
Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network
Dimapur, November 30 2020:
Strongly denouncing the 16 Point Agreement that led to the creation of Nagaland as a State of the Indian Union, the NSCN (IM) today said that the very creation of Nagaland State was a treacherous act as it led to the fragmentation of 'Indian occupied Naga territories' into different administrative set ups such as Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh.
In a statement issued on Monday, the NSCN (IM) said the history of Naga political struggle and the ongoing Indo-Naga political talks are a living testimony that the present Nagaland State is the brainchild of a few treacherous Nagas that showed up in the name of Naga People's Convention (NPC) hijacking the Naga issue without the concern of the bonafide freedom fighters.
"The IB (Intelligence Bureau) was at its divisive game after getting hold of a few Nagas, especially Government employees to join the bandwagon, taking the name as Naga People's Convention (NPC)," stated the NSCN (IM).
According to the NSCN (IM), the NPC without the consent, support and participation of the Naga people arrived at an agreement called the 16 Point Agreement that was responsible for the creation of Nagaland as the 16th State of the Indian Union.
The division of the Nagas however failed to stop the political aspirations of the Naga people and the Nagas set off the political struggle with greater passion and determination as testified by the ongoing struggle, said the NSCN (IM).
"For the Nagas, the creation of Nagaland State as a result of manipulation and treachery has been recorded as an act of insult to the freedom fighters in particular and to the Naga people in general," it claimed and added, "for such a treacherous act being brought to live in the name of commemorating the formation of Nagaland State we condemn such an act of defiance," it added.
The NSCN (IM) said the role of NPC was thus rejected and condemned by the Naga freedom fighters including AZ Phizo.
The NSCN (IM) further said it was this very NPC's 16 Point Agreement that sowed the seeds of colonialism and division and added that the Naga people shall take the stand never to allow another political hijack to take place when the Framework Agreement has already been signed to nullify any agreements of the past.
"NSCN and Naga people are fully aware of the divisive involvement of Governor RN Ravi behind this commemoration program in order to justify his all out efforts to protect the 16 Point Agreement at all costs," said the NSCN (IM) and added, "Thus, Ravi's stand is condemned by NSCN and Naga people" .