Member collective leadership of NSCN (I-M), VS Atem reiterated that Nagas cannot compromise over their exclusive sovereign rights over land and resources.
Atem said this while interacting with media persons on the sideline of the 21st Foundation Day celebration of Operation Salvage at Heningkunglwa in Peren district on Wednesday.
However, he said that the government of India “thinks that since there is Article 371(A), it (government of India) is the final authority to legislate and also to give power.”
Atem said such a stand taken only revealed that the Government of India thinks that Nagas had no right to extract their own resources.
He asserted that Nagas will not compromise on their sovereign right over resources above or below the surface of Naga land and reaffirmed that everything belonged exclusively to the Nagas.
Atem said when Nagaland government wanted to legislate on resources, the Centre outrightly rejected such move on the ground that the State government has no right to do so on matters pertaining to oil and gas.
He said Nagas were dancing to the tune of the Government of India.
When asked about the status of Naga talks, Atem said the Central government was supposed to work out the details of the final solution to the Naga political solution after signing of the Framework Agreement (FA) on August 3, 2015.
He said after that, the ball was now in the court of the Government of India and that question should be asked on them regarding the status of the final agreement.
“It’s up to them (GoI) when they will find time for the Naga political issue. We have nothing to say,” he remarked. He said when the government of India was “not able to find time for the Indo-Naga talks, we have nothing to say”.
Asked whether the ongoing Manipur situation would affect the ongoing Indo-Naga peace talks, Atem replied that it should be directed at the representative of the Central government.
Further, when asked whether the demand by Kuki-Chin group for a separate administration in Manipur would impact Naga territory, Atem reasserted that “not an inch of Naga land” should be touched in favour of the Kukis or Manipuris.
“We have been telling them (Centre) time and again, not even an inch of our land should be touched,” he stated.
Atem pointed out that Nagas had signed the Framework Agreement with the government of India and “whether there is a solution for Kuki or Chin Kukis, or for Manipuris, that cannot affect the Nagas. If they try to reduce the position of Nagas to their level, Nagas will never accept it.”