Nagas never part of Indian Union: Tuccu
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, August 14 2021: The Government of the People's Republic of Nagalim (GPRN) celebrated the 75th Naga Independence Day on Saturday.

In hisaddress at the main celebra tion held at its Hebron headquarters.

GPRN president Q Tuccu said that Nagas dedared independence on August 14,1947, one day beefore India's, and the declaration was sent to King George VI of England, Government of India and also to secretary general of the United Nations Organisation (UNO).

It was to deliver the message that the Nagas will decide their own political destiny and Naga people were never a part of Indian Union.

According to Q Tuccu, Naga people have come a long way in defending their historical and political rights and many have sacrificed as they defied death to assert their right to independent existence.

Till 1995, the Nagas stood ground as the Government of India (Gol) made a disastrous attempt to solve the Naga political issue by forcing the infamous 16-Point Agreement and Shillong Accord.

However, realising the utter failure of the 16-Point Agreement and Shillong Accord and the futility of dragging the Naga issue, the then Prime Minister of India PV Narasimha Rao approached the NSCN Collective Leadership abroad on June 12, 1995 in Paris to offer olive branch.

It turned out to be a ground breaking meeting.

Two years later it was Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda's turn who met teak and Muivah on February 3, 1997 in Zurich.

Finally, it resulted in signing the historic Indo-Naga Ceasefire on July 25, 1997 followed by numerous rounds of political talks passing through five successive Prime Ministers of India.

NSCN is keeping a wary eye on the Government of India since its representatives pointed out that Collective Leadership of the NSCN are too rigid in their stand.

However, in reality it is the other way round of repeating the same policy of shifting blames rather than taking responsibility.

It pertains to GoI not respecting the rights of the Naga people.

We cannot go on talking with the Government of India to suit its own convenience by dabbling with the legitimate rights of the Naga people.

Had the Nagas been too rigid the Indo-Naga political talks would not have lasted this far.

Defending the rights of the Nagas that are bona fide cannot be wrongly interpreted as being too rigid.

We have exhibited flexibility and spirit of understanding in a very sensible manner by appreciating the difficulties of the Government of India.

Flexibility may be considered as political urgency to hasten the process of negotiation.

But in the case of Naga political issue, we have to draw the line as it matters safeguarding the identity of Naga people's historical and political rights.

The Government of India must show reciprocal sensitivity in the spirit of accommodating the legitimate rights of the Nagas.

The Nagas cannot, however, go beyond the limit as it is the bounden duty of the Naga people to protect the sanctity of Naga political issue that have faithfully withstood at the cost of blood, sweat and tears of forefathers of the Nagas.

For the sake of exercising flexibility, the Nagas cannot forego the Naga National Flag and Yehzabo (Constitution), Q Tuccu said in his address.

Regarding Framework Agreement signed on August 3, 2015, Q Tuccu said that it is for the Government of India to examine the urgency of working out all the details of the Framework Agreement and act on it at the earliest without tampering a single word.

What has been signed with much fanfare before the world view should be pushed forward in letter and spirit.

There is no other way forward.

The Government of India need to prove before the world its credibility in handling the Indo-Naga political issue that had hung on for too long.

The relationship between India and Nagas on the basis of peaceful coexistence must be established to a meaningful level to benefit each other.

That is the political meaning in signing the Framework Agreement to protect Nagas sovereign identity.

Fulfilling the commitment towards executing the FA details will give the solution that is honourable and acceptable to both the Naga people and Government of India, Q Tuccu reiterated.

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