CNFN expresses concern over delay in Naga solution

Concerned Naga Forum of Nagaland (CNFN) has expressed serious concern over the prolonged delay in resolving the Naga political issue despite the signing of two key agreements, and urged both the Centre and the state government to expedite the process.
In a press release issued after its general body meeting held at Dimapur on March 21, CNFN said the long-awaited solution remained pending even after the Framework Agreement with NSCN (I-M) in 2015 and the Agreed Position with the Working Committee (WC), NNPGs in 2017.
The forum pointed out that it has been 29 years since talks began between the Government of India and NSCN (I-M), and over six years since the conclusion of negotiations on October 31, 2019, as announced by then Nagaland Governor and interlocutor R.N. Ravi during Assembly sessions in 2020 and 2021.
Stating that no interlocutor has been appointed since then, CNFN said the negotiation process had effectively concluded, and therefore, any attempt to “resume” or “upgrade” talks to a political level could only delay the solution further. It alleged that such moves undermined the spirit and intent of the agreements already signed.
The forum also expressed concern over the proliferation of factions after the signing of the agreements, stating that the increase in their number had contributed to rising incidents of violence and hardships faced by the public.
It further alleged that under the pretext of the unresolved issue, practices such as “syndicate systems” and illegal taxation had become widespread in both public and private sectors, placing a heavy burden on citizens and affecting economic activities. According to CNFN, this has resulted in a stagnated economy and growing public distress.
The forum lamented that while other northeastern states such as Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Assam were progressing, Nagaland continued to face socio-economic challenges under what it termed as a “pseudo peace”.
Calling upon the opposition-less government to wake up and fulfil its mandated role, CNFN urged the state government to act as a practical facilitator and respond to the aspirations of the people. It maintained that members of the Assembly were not “anti-solution” and should take proactive steps.
CNFN urged the state government to officially endorse the two agreements through a resolution in the forthcoming Assembly session, and appealed to the Government of India to implement them without further delay to deliver an early and acceptable political solution.
The forum also acknowledged that the prolonged delay had led to growing public frustration and called for unity among stakeholders to ensure that the long-pending issue is resolved at the earliest.