Dr. SC Jamir, while addressing a press conference at his private residence in Arkong Ward, Mokokchung on Friday said that he feels it is the right moment to speak out about the “Naga problem.” Jamir stated that he believed the Framework Agreement between the NSCN-IM and the Government of India signed on 3 August 2015 and the signing of the Agreed Position between Naga National Political Groups (NNPGs) and the Government of India on 17 November 2017 were signed consciously with full understanding of the implications and contents of the documents, and pointed out that neither documents mentioned sovereignty, integration, flag, or a separate constitution.
Jamir said that when he met India’s Prime Minister and Home Minister, they told him that “India is one nation, and India’s constitution is only one,” and that the “unity and integrity of the country, and the sanctity of the constitution of India cannot be compromised.”
He also envisioned a Nagaland at par with and equivalent to any other state in the country, one that is strong, united, peaceful, and prosperous. “But it is possible only if Nagas instill a common platform and idea,” he observed.
Jamir further appealed to the Naga underground and overground leaders to come together and sort out the differences and cherish the Naga values of honesty, courage, determination and endurance.
When Mokokchung Times asked him why the Nagaland Legislative Assembly passed resolutions on “Integration of Naga Inhabited Areas” six times, he said that during negotiations with the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in 1960, integration was one of the 16 points. He reasoned that there has to be “consensus” among the states involved, i.e. Manipur, Assam, and Arunachal Pradesh, for Naga integration to happen. “The center has no power to slice away territory of any state without their consent,” he said, while adding that the states of Assam, Manipur and Arunachal have passed resolutions against the demand for integration of Naga inhabited areas and that there is no consensus. “So the matter ends there,” he remarked.