Govt of India sending wrong signal by separate talk on flag and constitution: NSCN-IM

Guwahati: NSCN-IM stated that by having separate talk on flag and constitution, government of India is sending a wrong signal that is not in sync with the Framework Agreement. Framework Agreement was inked in 2015. In a statement NSCN-IM added that the government of India should not undo its commitment and back track from the Framework Agreement by distorting what has been agreed. "Under the given situation where the focus of the talks with the GoI (Government of India) is now mainly on Naga flag and Naga constitution (Yehzabo), it has become an exigent concern to dwell deeper on Framework Agreement lest reckless interpretation comes into play to find an escape route."
NSCN-IM added that framework Agreement embraces Naga flag and Naga Constitution. NSCN respects GoI for accepting historical fact in order to take forward the Indo-Naga political talks to a meaningful level. GoI accepts the universal principle that in democracy ‘sovereignty’ lies with the people. “Respecting each other’s position, shared sovereignty was defined in the competencies. Accordingly, how certain part of Naga sovereignty and vice versa was to be shared with the union of India was defined in the competencies. With this arrangement, we are confident that it will provide for an enduring inclusive new relationship of peaceful coexistence of the two entities. In the talks that followed, an understanding was reached that “enduring inclusive” was for the lasting relationship of all the Nagas including other factions to be included in the Framework Agreement. “New relationship” implies that the old relation of violent confrontation will end once for all,” NSCN-IM stated.

The outfit added that the new relationship of two entities pertains to peaceful coexistence of the two entities. The Framework Agreement is not far off for any layman to understand, that the identity of one is not dismissed, lost or demeaned in any manner that defines peaceful coexistence of two entities. “We have stoutly defended our political identity. It should be understood that Framework Agreement that speaks of the unique history of the Naga people and their sovereign independence identity embraces the flag and constitution. There is no scope provided to have separate talks on Naga flag and constitution. By having separate talks on flag and constitution, GoI is sending a wrong signal that is not in sync with the Framework Agreement. GoI should not undo its commitment and backtrack from the Framework Agreement by distorting what has been agreed upon. Even the appointment of the then Interlocutor as Nagaland state Governor is believed to have been deliberately done with the sinister design to undo his own signature from the Framework Agreement.”

NSCN declared that it is committed to stick to the Framework Agreement to solve the Indo-Naga political issue. The sticking point is, in total contradiction with the Framework Agreement. Ravi gave a misleading report to the Parliamentary Standing Committee. Such reports that are not connected with any agreement with the NSCN Negotiating team have now become the source of soreness in the Indo-Naga political talks. NSCN-IM recently had informal talks with the government of India. The Centre has ruled out a separate flag and constitution earlier. NSCN-IM general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah had written a letter to Prime minister, Narendra Modi in February seeking his intervention.