The National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN-IM) has called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to uphold the Framework Agreement (FA) signed between the group and the Government of India (GoI) on August 3, 2015. The group expressed gratitude to the 21 Members of Parliament (MPs) who sought clarity on the status of the Indo-Naga peace talks, stating that their move “should serve as a ‘wake-up call’ to the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi, the architect of Framework Agreement, to prove his standing on the Naga political issue he has brilliantly orchestrated in 2015 right in his official residence, New Delhi.”
In a statement issued by its Ministry of Information and Publicity (MIP), NSCN-IM recalled that when the FA was signed, it created “the much-needed breathing space for both the negotiating parties” and “opened up new horizons towards meeting the political aspirations of the Nagas.”
The group noted that the signing ceremony was “given high-profile political status with the world as the witness via the live telecast.”
The NSCN-IM alleged that despite the initial excitement surrounding the FA, “the delay that has crossed 27 years triggered the expected apprehensions and the lack of sincerity on the part of the government of India.” It maintained that the Framework Agreement “doesn’t merit to be compared with the Agreed Position signed with the RN Ravi’s created group, WC NNPGs,” claiming that the Agreed Position is “nothing but a coloration of Article 371A of the Indian Constitution as craftily handled by the Indian agencies.” The group further stated, “Certainly, it is difficult to find the meeting point between Framework Agreement and Agreed Position.”
NSCN-IM also criticized some Naga representatives in Parliament for allegedly downplaying the Naga issue. The statement pointed out that “it is highly indignant to recollect the traces of betrayal by our own Naga representatives in Indian parliament, who made mockery of the sanctity of the Naga political issue by denying before the august house of Indian parliament that there is no such issue in Nagaland.” It specifically mentioned former MP Apok Jamir’s response when Swaraj Kaushal raised concerns over the lack of progress in the Indo-Naga political talks, stating that Jamir “snubbed the whole Nagas as he feigned ignorance of the seriousness of the delayed Naga political talks.”
The statement highlighted past support from Indian leaders for the Naga political process, recalling that three former Prime Ministers—VP Singh, Chandra Shekhar, and Deve Gowda—had jointly written to the Prime Ministers of India and Thailand urging sincere support for the negotiations.
Warning against any backtracking from the Framework Agreement, NSCN-IM reiterated its commitment to the Naga cause, stating that “it will be an act of betraying if we go back against our vow before the creator God to seek Naga solution under the Indian constitution.” The group also urged the Government of India to “send the right signal across the northeast region and not let the fragile situation turn into fireball by not taking forward the Framework Agreement to logical conclusion.”