WC NNPGs question Naga Hoho’s legitimacy, critique stance on agreements with GoI

Mokokchung, 2 February (MTNews): In response to recent statements by Naga Hoho, the Working Committee (WC) and Naga National Political Groups (NNPGs) have expressed concerns and called for a clarification. The WC and NNPGs said that the present leadership of Naga Hoho has deviated from its original vision, rendering it irrelevant and serving the interests of only a few.

Originally envisioned as an all-encompassing, boundary-less body to uphold Naga political, historical, and cultural unity, the WC NNPGs said that Naga Hoho has become an extension of a particular faction, losing legitimacy and credibility. It asserted that Naga Hoho’s decline is evident in its diminishing influence, with key tribal groups like ENPO, NTC, and CNTC withdrawing their support.

The WC NNPGs’ critique extended to Naga Hoho’s stance on the Framework Agreement (FA) and the subsequent Agreed Position signed by the GoI Interlocutor, Mr RN Ravi, with NNPGs two years later on 17 November 2017. The WC NNPGs questioned Naga Hoho’s prioritization of the FA over the Agreed Position, highlighting what they perceive as “intellectual deficiency” within the current Naga Hoho leadership.

The WC NNPGs emphasized that the Agreed Position acknowledges the political and historical rights of the Naga people to self-determination, making it a powerful document for the Naga cause. It questioned the Naga Hoho “why and how Agreed Position is not a legitimate political document” and why the signatories of the FA failed to implement it despite understanding the “intricacies of the Indian system.”

Furthermore, the WC NNPGs argued that blaming individuals for the delay in the political solution is futile. The WC, NNPGs claimed the FA was rushed through without proper consultation, leading to the current impasse. Highlighting its approach, the WC NNPGs stated that they quietly consulted all Naga tribes, village headmen, apex civil societies, intellectuals, and legislators to formulate a just and honorable political solution.

The WC NNPGs’ statement alleged the Naga Hoho prioritized media attention over substance during the FA signing, failing to understand the Prime Minister’s speech welcoming the NSCN-IM into the “national mainstream.”

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