Young Nagas are paying the price for decades of delayed political resolution. With unemployment rising and opportunities dwindling, many are leaving the state to survive, while signed Indo-Naga agreements remain unimplemented. On Thursday, a group of senior Naga leaders called on the Government of India to demonstrate decisive political will, warning that prolonged delays have deepened public frustration and eroded hope, particularly among the youth.
The elders, who held their second consultative meeting on the Naga political issue, later addressed the media at the residence of former chief minister SC Jamir. They described the current stalemate as a critical threat to both social stability and the aspirations of the next generation.
Former Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee president K Therie highlighted the human cost of inaction. “The Naga people, especially the youth, are paying the price for this delay. Thousands of young people are unemployed, drifting without opportunities or direction, while many are forced to leave the state to survive. This situation cannot continue,” he said. Therie urged citizens and institutions such as the Nagaland Joint Christian Forum to take responsibility and collectively push for the implementation of the agreements.
“The talks are over. Agreements have been signed. What remains is political will,” Therie added, questioning why the implementation process has not yet begun.
Former chief minister SC Jamir said that the unresolved Naga political issue remains the single most critical factor undermining peace in the state, despite the signing of two landmark agreements – the Framework Agreement with NSCN (IM) on 3 August 2015 and the Agreed Position with WC-NNPG on 17 November 2017. “Over two to three decades of negotiations have already addressed all major political questions, including sovereignty, constitution, flag, and integration,” he said. “After such extensive discussions, agreements were signed. Raising the same issues again after signing falls outside the legitimate political framework.”
On territorial integration, Jamir stated that the agreements leave no ambiguity. “Nagas of Nagaland will remain in Nagaland, Nagas of Manipur in Manipur, and Nagas of Arunachal in Arunachal. There is no ambiguity in the Framework Agreement or the Agreed Position,” he said.
Addressing accountability, Jamir said there was no obstruction from WC-NNPG but that NSCN (IM) continues to delay implementation. He cautioned the Centre against using unresolved demands on flag and constitution as an excuse to stall the political settlement. “Assuming that the issue is not implementable because someone is lingering on flag and constitution is wrong,” he said, urging the government to move ahead based on the signed agreements.
Former Nagaland Legislative Assembly Speaker Z Lohe recalled previous commitments by the Centre, including a public assurance by the Prime Minister promising a political solution within 18 months. He also criticized the removal of interlocutor RN Ravi, who was seen as committed to concluding the process, and noted that the state’s Political Affairs Committee had failed to demonstrate resolve by not adopting a clear resolution in recent meetings.
Retired IAS officer KK Sema stressed the urgent need to increase awareness among citizens, particularly the youth, on the realities on the ground, existing roadblocks, and possible ways forward. “Young people, both educated and uneducated, are trapped in a state of hopelessness. This is an extremely critical situation that cannot be ignored,” he said. Sema also criticized political gimmickry surrounding repeated assurances of an “Election for Solution,” which he said has only deepened public disillusionment.
The elders agreed to hold further rounds of consultations and, in principle, resolved to exert sustained pressure on both the Government of India and the Nagaland government to ensure early implementation of the concluded agreements.
