NSCN (I-M) on Wednesday questioned the authority of former Nagaland chief minister Dr. SC Jamir to speak on the Naga political issue, asserting that he was neither authorised nor mandated to represent the Naga people in the ongoing negotiations.
NSCN (I-M) leaders were responding to the recent statements of Dr. SC Jamir after meeting with RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat in Delhi.
NSCN (I-M) deputy ato kilonser V S Atem said the group had no comment on the former chief minister’s remarks but questioned his mandate. “We have no comment. They are not authorised or mandated people,” he said, adding that such statements were being made “for the sake of talking.”
When asked about the meeting with the PAC, Atem said the discussions had centred on the ongoing Naga political talks and clarified that oil exploration had not been on the agenda.
NSCN (I-M) member collective leadership RH Raising described the interaction as a consultation rather than a formal meeting. “There is no meeting. We just had a consultation,” he said.
On Jamir’s comments, Raising questioned his standing to speak on behalf of the Naga people.
“You ask him. He is not an advocate of the Naga people,” he said, adding that NSCN (I-M) had held this view “from the very beginning” and accused him of being an “out-and-out Indian”.
Raising asserted that Jamir was speaking from an Indian political perspective and had no right to comment on the Naga political issue.
Responding to questions about a possible timeline for a settlement after prolonged negotiations, Raising said the matter rested with the Government of India. “It depends on Indians, not on us. The ball is in their court,” he replied.
The consultation was attended by six members of NSCN (I-M)’s collective leadership.