Q Tuccu, Chairman of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN-IM), on the occasion of the 46th Republic Day celebration at CHQ/Hebron, condemned the Indian government’s continued attempts to exploit the region’s natural resources.
Tuccu highlighted the abundance of sovereign wealth in Nagaland, pointing to critical minerals such as petroleum, coal, chromite, limestone, nickel, and cobalt. He stated that these minerals play an important role in industrial development, including defense.
“For quite a long period the government of India has been casting covetous eyes to explore our natural wealth, mainly petroleum but under no circumstances should we allow our mineral wealth to be exploited by our aggressor when they refused to respect the political rights of the Naga people,” Tuccu said.
He specifically referenced a recent attempt by the Indian government to explore , drill oil and extract petroleum in Mokokchung district, a move he described as “India is simply testing our nerves without respecting our history and culture”.
He reiterated that Naga culture is deeply connected to the land and its resources, with the people viewing their wealth as a divine gift tied to their national identity. “We are possessive of our God-given wealth, with a strong attachment to our national identity, which provides us with a sense of legacy and pride as God’s chosen people,” Tuccu stated.
The NSCN-IM president also praised the Ao Naga community stating, “The stand taken by the Ao Naga community is an exemplary manner of asserting the Naga national identity and they have courageously given the statement against exploration of petroleum in the land that belongs to them and not to the Indian government”.
Unthinkable Nagas would sell off their rights after 70 years of struggle for a solution under Indian Constitution: Tuccu
“It is unthinkable that Nagas who have tasted the worst political and military pressure of the Indian government for more than 70 years would sell off their rights to India in exchange for a solution under the Indian Constitution,” NSCN-IM President Q Tuccu remarked.
“May God forbid creating such an abominable mess in the name of Naga political solution,” he added, stressing that Nagas are not after a mere morsel of a solution after seven decades of blood, sweat, and tears.
Tuccu also pointed out the “irony” of NSCN being blamed for delaying the Naga political solution, stating that the true responsibility lies with India. He emphasized that for more than 27 years of Indo-Naga political talks, India has strategically played divisive politics to keep the Nagas fragmented along factional lines.
“The truth is, India wants to lessen the weight of NSCN at the negotiation table for the Naga political solution,” Tuccu said. He explained that the creation of the Naga National Political Party (NNPGs) was a deliberate attempt to counterbalance the NSCN’s Framework Agreement of August 3, 2015, by using the Agreed Position of NNPGs. According to Tuccu, India’s strategy is to confuse the Nagas through this Agreed Position.
“The many factions formed with the blessing of the Indian government stand nowhere when it comes to negotiations for the Naga political issue,” Tuccu stated. “They simply do not know how to negotiate in the manner demanded by the complexity of the Indo-Naga political conflict as reflected by the historical political rights of the Nagas.”
He further criticized the factions for being negotiated by India from their own interests, completely sidelining the historical and political rights of the Naga people. “This is why they ended up signing the Agreed Position prepared by the government of India,” Tuccu added.
Tuccu also accused the so-called Naga intellectuals and civil society leaders of compromising their moral and ethical standards by supporting factions created and nurtured by the Indian government, calling it the “worst-case scenario in Naga history.”
He urged the Naga people to stay vigilant against forces that, in the name of a political solution, are attempting to erase key historical documents like the Naga Club memorandum, the Simon Commission of 1929, the Naga Independence Declaration of 1947, and the Naga plebiscite of 1951.
NSCN-IM declares victims of massacres as “National Martyrs”
Tuccu honored the victims of various massacres by officially declaring them as “National Martyrs.” On this solemn occasion, Tuccu said, “I hereby declare that the victims of the Yengpang massacre, Matikhrii massacre, Oinam massacre, Mokokchung massacre, Oting massacre, and others, are ‘National Martyrs.’ In keeping with this spirit, NSCN/GPRN shall not shy away from helping and sharing the pain and sorrow of the children and grandchildren of these National Martyrs.”
Tuccu emphasized the importance of standing strong in the face of history’s atrocities. “Let us not be shaken, and let us not allow ourselves to be fear-ridden because of these massacres, as recorded by history. We must remember the lives lost, the dignity stripped, and the countless families shattered by the violence inflicted upon the Naga people,” he said.
He extended a heartfelt call to those who have suffered in silence, urging victims of violence—particularly those who had their dignity violated and lives destroyed—to come forward and share their stories. “There might be many victims silently crying for justice, their agonizing untold stories of violation, rape, and murder,” Tuccu continued. “NSCN/GPRN welcomes these victims to come forward with courage. Know that it is not your fault, and you did nothing to deserve this. Rest assured that you are not alone. NSCN/GPRN is here to listen and support you.”
He emphasized that the history of the Nagas is written with the blood, sweat, and tears of countless individuals who have laid down their lives in the struggle for a better tomorrow. “The Nagas of today should not make their memory short to play with the lives and blood of our fathers, brothers, mothers and sisters who have given up everything for our better tomorrow where there is respect and dignity,” Tuccu stated.
“How can we forget the hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians tormented by the India Army, physically and mentally simply to vent their anger. Many have been massacred in every region of the Nagas,” Tuccu said, recalling the brutal killings that occurred without remorse.
“History will never forget when one prime minister of India declared that Nagas would be crushed or exterminated without compunction,” he added.