NSCN (I-M) has reaffirmed its position on the Indo-Naga political issue, rejecting claims that the Naga movement is a secessionist struggle or a law-and-order problem. Instead, it termed the conflict an “invasion and forceful occupation” of Naga homeland by India.
In a statement issued through its MIP, NSCN (I-M) asserted that the Naga resistance movement has been widely recognized since its inception, with India failing to subdue the Nagas despite military action.
The group accused the Indian government of collaborating with “Naga traitors” to legitimize its rule through the Naga People’s Convention (NPC) and the 16-Point Agreement, which it called “bogus” and imposed without consent from legitimate Naga leaders.
NSCN (I-M) also condemned the Shillong Accord, claiming it was designed to politically subjugate the Nagas but was rejected by the Naga National Assembly for betraying Naga sovereignty.
It recalled that after two decades of violent confrontation, a ceasefire was established in 1997, leading to political negotiations that resulted in the Framework Agreement (FA) on August 3, 2015.
Signed in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, then Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Army Chief Gen. Dalbir Singh Suhag, and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, the agreement acknowledged Naga sovereignty and their unique history, proposing a shared sovereignty framework.
NSCN (I-M) maintained that the Nagas own their land and its resources and emphasized its commitment to a peaceful resolution that respects sovereign rights. “We are for peace, but not at the expense of our future,” the statement declared.
Calling the Framework Agreement the foundation of Indo-Naga relations, NSCN (I-M) warned against attempts to undermine it, stating, “No one should ever attempt to tear down the Framework Agreement” as it was secured through the sacrifices of thousands of Naga patriots.