NSCN(IM) reacts to Rahul’s jibe on Accord

EMN Dimapur, March 4 In the wake of scathing remark hurled by Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi in the ongoing Parliament session, questioning whether the Prime Minister had bothered to take everyone on board before declaring ‘Naga Accord’, the NSCN/GPRN today expressed shock and retorted that Gandhi has failed to understand the seriousness of Indo-Naga political conflict which has been dragging on for over seven decades. The MIP-NSCN(IM) in a statement said, “The manner in which he expresses his position to the long pending political issue between India and Nagalim is but sadly deplorable.” The NSCN urged Gandhi to leave aside electoral politics and not take sides with the Congress ruling two states of Manipur and Assam but show statesmanship as an upcoming leader of India. The NSCN(IM) also reiterated its firm commitment to the 3rd August, Framework Agreement (3AFA) signed between the Government of India under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and competent interlocutor RN. Ravi. The NSCN further appealed to all the leaders in India, irrespective of party affiliation to contribute positively and support the ongoing peacetalk so that peace and prosperity dawns to the Naga people. Meanwhile, the NSCN responded Rahul Gandhi’s ‘unhealthy jibe’ to the Framework Agreement with a brief recap to inform him of the peace process. It said, “Nagas have been quietly observing Rahul Gandhi who has been rigorously campaigning against 3AFA wherever he goes by undermining the undefeatable sentiment attached to the long pending political issue. However, the latest avoidable remark made in the Lok Sabha on 2nd March 2016 does not augur well with the Nagas and henceforth necessitate responding.” “Rahul Gandhi is much expected to know that the ongoing Indo-Naga Talks started during the congress rule government under Narasimha Rao Prime Ministership. It was your Prime Minister who came all the way to Paris to meet the Collective Leadership Isak Chishi Swu and Th. Muivah seeking peaceful terms of negotiation and thus NSCN responded positively. Hence started the Cease Fire followed by political negotiation between the two parties. Late. Narasimha Rao is therefore revered and Naga people will continue to remember him as a person who tried to understand Naga political problem in his best way.” “Rahul Gandhi should know that major period of the 18 years long political talks between Nagas represented by NSCN and government of India was under Congress led govt. His great grandfather Nehru, Grandmother Indira Gandhi, his father Rajiv Gandhi and his mother Sonia Gandhi were all part of the Indo- Naga conflict in search for a political solution. How can he feign ignorance? Six consecutive prime Ministers of India have committed on resolving indo-Naga conflict through peaceful means.” “Having the political pedigree with his grand mother and father lost to conflict situations, he is expected to work all out for peace. But it is strange how he is opposed to peaceful resolutions as in 3AFA. The Framework Agreement is a political document with a set of mutually agreed principles which will act as a guide book in finding the final solution between India and Naga people. His self created terminology like Naga Accord is nonexistent and misleading.” “If Rahul Gandhi has a conscience he would have respected the Framework Agreement as this is the only workable process to a final settlement that has caused a loss of more than two hundred fifty thousand innocent Naga lives as well as Indian soldier and that it has also immensely dented the image of India in the international forum for its human rights violation, political suppression by employing bloody method to the Naga people movements for self determination.” “Naga political issue and movements for self determination is the strongest and longest sustaining movement in South-East Asia. Realising the futility of waging war against each other and for securing a peaceful solution, Cease Fire between NSCN and Government of India was signed in 1997. Under such serious and sensitive situation a man in his stature is expected to understand the basic nature of the case and not resort to childish mockery and amusement to the most serious conflict which is sacred to both the negotiating party. How can he fail to notice the presence of Indian officials besides Narendra Modi the Prime Minister of India, the Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Army Chief General. Dalbir Singh, National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval, RN. Ravi also the Chairman of Joint Intelligence Committee (JIC) among others witnesses the historic signing of the 3rd August Framework Agreement in 2015 at Delhi.” “NSCN and the Naga people strongly condemn and opposed his colonial mindset of bully and denial to the long standing Indo-Naga political issue. Nagas will rather admire young leader of the Indian National Congress party like Rahul Gandhi to reinvent himself towards progressive and accommodative personality.” “Trying to resolve the Naga issue through the interest of the neighbouring communities who shared the same sorry state of colonial space by overlooking the real victim will be a travesty of justice and Nagas will oppose it tooth and nail. Our conflict can only be resolved by genuinely accepting and recognising the historical facts and political rights of the Nagas in the spirit of mutual respect and partnership.”