Dimapur, June 24 (MExN): The NNC/FGN under the leadership of Zhopra Vero on Wednesday called upon all Nagas to remain vigilant, uphold historical truth, and distinguish between genuine national commitment and political opportunism.
“The sacrifices of our forefathers must not be forgotten, nor should the principles for which they struggled be compromised for temporary political gains. The future of the Naga nation must continue to be guided by truth, justice, and the collective will of the Naga people,” the NNC/FGN (Zhopra) said in a statement issued by its Rali Wali.
Alleging certain political leaders and parties of historical distortion and political opportunism, the NNC/FGN asserted that the creation of the State of Nagaland and Article 371(A) were not the achievements of current leaders but the fruits of sacrifices made by the pioneers of the Naga national movement. It responded to the recent call for unity by the NPF, asserting that historical facts are being “subjected to distortion, selective interpretation, and political convenience” to serve vested interests. The statement came in reaction to the NPF’s rebuttal of allegations made by the WC, NNPGs.
The NNC/FGN said the prolonged Naga political issue has not been resolved because of “competing interests, political opportunism and the absence of sincere collective political will,” and not because the legitimacy of the Naga cause was in question. It claimed that over the years, “many politicians masquerading as guardians and champions of the Naga people have resorted to every conceivable device, descending even to the lowest moral depths, merely to retain power and continue exploiting public resources.”
In regard to former Governor RN Ravi, the NNC/FGN stated that he was removed from the state because he sought to enforce accountability and challenge corruption that had long escaped scrutiny.
It also alleged of “an open secret” that “the then present political leadership of Nagaland went to the extent of hindering efforts by civil societies, including the GB Federation, to engage directly with the Prime Minister of India in order to facilitate and expedite the Naga political solution.”
The statement further claimed it was “equally troubling” that the political party which was established to facilitate talks between Government of India and NNC, and had committed to stepping down to pave the way for a political solution, is now aligned with the very party it once opposed. This it said was “exposing the extent to which principles have been sacrificed for political survival.”
Recalling historical milestones, the NNC/FGN cited the 1929 Memorandum to the Simon Commission, the declaration of Independence on August 14, 1947, the 1951 Plebiscite, and the boycott of the 1952 Indian General Elections as undeniable evidence of the Naga people’s collective assertion of political rights. It also quoted Ato Kilonser Kughato Sukhai, who stated in 1967 that “there cannot be any solution to the Nagaland problem within the framework of the Indian Constitution.”
The NNC/FGN asserted the Government of India “reluctantly agreed to create the State of Nagaland” driven by “international attention generated by the efforts” of AZ Phizo. “Claims by certain political leaders that the attainment of Statehood or Article 371(A) was solely their achievement must be viewed in proper historical perspective. Such claims amount to harvesting the fruits of sacrifices, struggles, and political groundwork laid by others,” it said.
The statement also criticised the recent MoU signed between the governments of Nagaland and Assam on oil exploration, saying it was based on a “reckless characterisation of historically recognised Naga territories as boundary disputed areas” and depicted a “gross misunderstanding of Naga history and geography.”
