Chairman of the NSCN-IM, Q Tuccu, on the organisation’s 47th Raising Day, delivered a rare and strongly worded self-critique, warning that the group has become “increasingly economically oriented” and is gradually losing sight of its founding principles.
In his speech, Tuccu said that while NSCN membership has grown over the years, numerical strength without discipline and conviction risks stagnation. “An increase in numbers without fervor, dedication, devotion, conviction, and adherence to party discipline leads to stagnation,” he said.
He expressed concern that materialism, opportunism, and moral erosion had crept into the organisation, cautioning that many had grown “comfortable, benefiting from the sacrifices of others.” Drawing a sharp distinction between revolutionary commitment and employment, Tuccu said, “NSCN members cannot equate themselves with salaried employees,” reminding cadres of the oath they had sworn.
The chairman warned that indiscipline and moral decline had created vulnerabilities that adversarial forces could exploit, stating that the organisation’s drift from its ethos mirrored “the unrelenting Israelites wandering in the wilderness.”
Calling Raising Day a moment of renewal rather than celebration alone, Tuccu urged members to engage in “honest introspection” and recommit themselves to selfless service. “We have grown too comfortable in our own world,” he said, adding that the pursuit of comfort had led to complacency and a loss of pride in sacrifice.
On the political front, Tuccu reiterated the NSCN-IM’s position on the Indo-Naga peace process, referring to the 1997 ceasefire and the signing of the Framework Agreement with the Government of India on August 3, 2015. While calling the agreement a significant step, he accused India of attempting to backtrack on its commitments, alleging “insincerity and double standards.”
He also stressed the need for the organisation to adapt to changing global realities, noting that strength in the modern era is no longer measured solely by arms. “Without investment in intelligence and strategic awareness, we risk becoming powerless spectators of our own fate,” he said, pointing to technology-driven forms of warfare and the importance of strategic intelligence.
Emphasising international engagement, Tuccu said the Naga political struggle must reach beyond Nagalim and the Indian subcontinent. He called for the international community to be made aware of what he described as “betrayals and injustices” faced by the Naga people and sought moral, emotional, and economic support globally.
Reaffirming the organisation’s ideological foundation, Tuccu said the NSCN would continue to stand under the banner of “Nagalim for Christ,” asserting that divine guidance had sustained the Naga struggle through decades of hardship.
The address concluded with a call for renewed discipline, resilience, and commitment to the Naga national cause.