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Imminent Naga leaders during an interactive session with the media fraternity at the Press Club of India in New Delhi on Feb. 25.[/caption]
Dimapur, Feb. 25 (EMN): Several imminent Naga personalities interacted with the media in Delhi on Feb. 25 to send a strong message across the world that the long-pending Nagas political issue should be solved immediately as the people have suffered enough during several decades of struggle for self determination.
The Naga Students’ Union, Delhi (NSUD) organised the press conference at the Press Club of India in New Delhi close on the heels of the Global Naga Mass Rally which was held on Feb. 23, demanding immediate solution of Naga political issue that is “honourable and acceptable” to the Nagas.
Naga Mothers’ Association (NMA) advisor Dr. Rosemary Dzuvichii said during the interactive session that “the strong display of passion for the Naga issue and desires for immediate solution reflects the strength of young Naga generation,” according to a press release issued by NSUD president. She said that as if imposing oppressive law like AFSPA in the Naga areas is not enough, the government of India is trying to introduce CAB and Permanent Residence Certificate (PRC) in the region besides giving further assurance of immunity upon Assam Rifles. She described the situation as “nothing less than an undeclared secret war upon the Nagas.”
Naga Mothers’ Association joint secretary Malsawmthangi Leyri said that “Nagas want peace, raise healthy children in the loving and warm home.” Stating that Nagas have gone through so much sufferings and “mothers are tired of carrying too many dead bodies of Naga compatriots,” she urged ‘both Nagalim and India to realise the lost caused due to the conflict and arrive at an amicable solution at the earliest.’
Citing the memorandum being submitted to the Simon Commission in 1929 to leave the Nagas alone, Prof. N. Venuh, dept. of History, Nagaland University reminded that the ‘history of the Nagas’ movement did not begin after the Indian independence, and it is nothing against the Indians.’ He said that even during the British colonial period, the Nagas were under the “excluded areas” from their administration. He added the Nagas have lost trust as nothing has happened even after more than 70 years of negotiation with the Indian leadership and that the “international communities are also keenly watching” the Nagas’ political issue.
Neingulo Krome, secretary general of NPMHR, said that every effort had been made to bring all the sections of the society to support the peace talks since the 2nd ceasefire was signed and that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s assurance to bring a solution was not different from the promises made by other leaders in the past. “A solution needs political will, which Indian leadership lacks,” he said.
NSUD president Luikang Bruce said that the “young Naga generation is very much with the movement” and that the youths would continue the movement even if present Naga leaders are gone until the Nagas get their demand.”Our cause is about our rights, our identity, our land, our culture and our very life,” he said.
Dr. Yaronsho Ngalung, Chairman, ADC, Ukhrul, said Global Naga Mass Rally came at a right time as the centre government has failed to fulfil its promise of solving Nagas’ political issue. He said that the government of India is not at all sincere in the peace talks.
It may be mentioned that the Nagas in Delhi organised a peace rally on Saturday, marching
from Mandi House to Parliament Street in the national capital to demand the government of India to solve the much-delayed Indo-Naga political issue that has been dragging on for decades, despite several rounds of talks between the two parties. The Indian government and NSCN (IM) signed the “historic” peace accord, a framework agreement for Naga peace, on August 3, 2015 but the much-hyped “solution” is not in sight to this day.