Mokokchung, 2 August (MTNews): The Working Committee, Naga National Political Groups (WC NNPGs) on Tuesday expressed their concerns on critical issues affecting Nagaland, including oil and natural resources, the quest for an honourable and acceptable political solution, and the troubling situation in Manipur.
NNPGs accuse GoI of infringing on Nagas’ constitutional rights and exploiting natural resources in Nagaland; pull up Chief Minister Rio
NNPGs emphasized that the Indian Constitution guarantees Nagas’ rights to explore and extract natural resources within Nagaland. However, they accused the Petroleum Ministry of India of impeding these rights, infringing on the constitutional guarantees, and continuing to infringe on the constitutional rights of the Nagas.
“Currently, despite the constitutional guarantee, Nagaland state assembly does not have the legislative power to legislate or amend this matter,” the NNPGs stated, adding, “This clear operational vacuum was removed when WC, NNPGs and GoI focussed on this crucial matter,” it said.
“GoI Interlocutor and WC, NNPGs, in March 2018, agreed that Post Indo-Naga political agreement, the Nagaland Tatar Hoho (Nagaland Federal Hoho, upper house representing all tribes and the Leacy Hoho, democratically elected members) combined, shall be the apex body to legislate on all matters including transfer and ownership of land and its resources, both manmade and natural including mines, minerals, fossil fuels, petroleum and natural gas and any new finds,” the WC NNPGs stated.
With respect to strategic, radioactive elements, rare earths which have Indian national security relevance and implications, NNPGs said exploration and mining shall be through joint venture agreements between the Government of India and the Government of Nagaland. Similar constitutional provision will ensure political and administrative arrangements for Naga territories in Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh, it added.
The NNPGs also called out the Chief Minister of Nagaland for forming a committee to look into the feasibility of oil exploration with the Governor as a member rather than “facilitating early honourable and acceptable agreement based on the negotiated terms.”
“This is against the spirit of Indo-Naga political negotiations and agreed terms. It is against the spirit of Article 371 (A),” the WC NNPGs argued.
It further added how the “CM had time to etch his name in the history of Indo-Naga conflict as the man who played real peacemaker, calmed the political turmoil and facilitated the inking of Indo-Naga political agreement” but “opted to hang onto the CM chair, foregoing greater responsibility.”
Accusing that all man-made resources in Nagaland have been “short-circuited and diverted into their own pockets,” the WC NNPGs said that Nagaland is a state with the “biggest begging bowl,” and therefore, “it is morally and ethically wrong to sell untapped wealth of the people for further self-aggrandizement” and hence, they asserted, it was unacceptable.
“A group of vultures are now hovering over the underground wealth of Naga people. Visionless profiteers and wanton politicians cannot repair Nagaland,” the WC NNPGs asserted, stating that there is nothing left for future generations.
“Naga tribes must oppose tooth and nail all attempts to conduct oil exploration in Nagaland. The Naga vultures are devoid of principle or morality,” the WC, NNPGs stated, adding that all Core Committees or Special/High Powered Team must be abolished.
The WC NNPGs also highlighted how “venturing into negotiated domain already agreed in principle between negotiating entities, is too dangerous”.
The WC NNPG further attacked the Chief Minister what has been achieved since R.N Ravi’s removal when on 13 October 2021, at Nagaland House New Delhi, the Chief Minister declared that to expedite early solution, his government was able to remove Mr R.N Ravi from the “gubernatorial post.”
On honorable and acceptable political solution
The NNPGs argued that they have highlighted a clear roadmap based on the Agreed Position signed between the Government of India (GoI) and WC, NNPGs on 17th November 2017. However, the group claimed that there are still those “Non-Nagaland Nagas who have this bizarre habit of lying to the people that through Framework Agreement, Nagaland does not exist and Art. 371 (A) had become irrelevant.”
“Such a narrative is an insult to the intellectuals of the people of Nagaland,” the WC NNPGs stated, adding that time has come for Nagaland CM to respond and put a stop to this “nonsense.”
“Silence would be construed as tacit understanding with these elements and therefore he would be failing his constitutional duties,” the WC NNPGs further added.
According to the NNPGs, Article 371 (A) is the only instrument which sustains the political identity and distinct historical foundation of the Naga people and therefore must be fortified at all costs.
“The GoI must understand that all Nagas in different states and people of Nagaland, in particular, yearn for peace through the honourable solution. It is the non-indigenous Nagas sheltering in Nagaland who lives in illusion and does not wish for peace to prevail in Nagaland,” it added.
On Nagaland Police arms and ammunition
According to the NNPGs, the situation in Manipur is dire with more than thirty thousand people displaced, and over a hundred and fifty people killed. Shockingly, more than a hundred and fifty churches have been destroyed in the region. The NNPGs alleged that arms and ammunition from Nagaland Police had allegedly fallen into the hands of religious fundamentalists in Manipur, fuelling communal forces and religious fanaticism.
“One thing is clear. Churches were not Narco-depots and their destruction cannot be justified. Nobody is buying the Narco-terrorism narrative in Manipur,” the WC NNPGs stated.
The NNPGs further questioned the arrest of a Tangkhul NSCN (IM) official by Nagaland police, the seizure of missing arms and the June gathering of Meitei elders and Tangkhul village elders (Federation of Haomee) which was reported on 10th June 2023. The NNPGs said that, according to reports, they resolved to “retrace common culture and identity and vowed to defend the territorial integrity of Manipur” and, therefore, is a testimony of Meitei-Tangkhul blood relation taking precedence over “Nagalim For Christ.”
“It is ironic that Nagaland Police arms and ammo, meant to defend Nagaland, are being bought off to defend the territorial integrity of Manipur by those claiming to stand for Nagalim for Christ! Late IM Chairman Mr Isak Chishi Swu must be writhing in his own grave because as Christian comrades at Hebron camp have gone incommunicado and supplying arms and ammunition to kill Christians and to protect the territorial integrity of Manipur,” the NNPGs added.
On the State government’s response to Manipur
The NNPGs termed the State government’s response to Manipur as ‘lifeless’ when there is a raging inferno in the neighbourhood.
“Innocent men, mothers and daughters are being dragged out of their homes, paraded naked, tortured and killed. Places of worship in hundreds are in smoldering ruins. This is the time for the Nagaland Government to be proactive,” the NNPGs stated, demanding that the state CM must assert his leadership and statesmanship before the world.
“The Church and Civil Societies are doing their best. All neighbourhood state leaders have expressed their anguish and appealed to stop the carnage. Has the Nagaland state failed Nagas in particular and humanity at large?” the NNPGs posed.
It opined that it is morally not right for CM to maintain stoic silence even though human blood has seeped through his doorstep.
“Is it appropriate to believe Biren Singh when he says killings and destruction are an internal problem of Manipur? It is not,” the NNPGs stated and expressed their belief that the Nagaland CM has a role to play.
“He must express and convey collective condemnation of all parents and children of Nagaland on horrific scenes in the daily news and social media. The people expect from their Chief Minister a strong stand against violent communal forces. He must be vocal and partner with secular voices in restoring peace and harmony in Manipur,” the NNPGs added.