National Socialist Women’s Organization of Nagalim (NSWON) has condemned the act of some Naga women tying rakhi on the wrists of Assam Rifles jawans in Dimapur and Tamenglong recently during raksha bandhan.
In a press note, NSWON chairperson Hosheli Achumi said that “this does not reflect the ethos of the Naga political struggle when Naga women were raped, molested, tortured and killed in the most inhuman manner by the Indian security forces”. NSWON expressed disbelief that those Naga women would “do such a thing so disgusting on Raksha Bandhan which is alien to Naga culture.”
Asserting that the word “Raksha Bandhan” denotes “tie of protection”, NSWON said that there was a striking contrast as “we look back into the Indo-Naga history” where there was not a single instance when “occupational Indian security forces have given protection to the Naga women.” It said that no sensible Naga women would go against their conscience to “tie Rakhis on the invading forces.”
NSWON also said that the act was “a mockery of our fight to honour the Naga martyrs that included many women and young girls.” It said that the same group of Naga women paying “a token visit to the widows and orphans of the martyrs” who made extreme sacrifice for “Naga nation” would have been more befitting. “To the Nagas, the invaders are no better than the infidels,” NSWON stated.
When “blood of the Naga martyrs are still crying”, NSWON said it was “appalling” to come across some Naga women tying rakhis “when there is no bond of sister-brother relationship whatsoever.”
Questioning those Naga women how do they expect the “infidels to protect them?”, NSWON said that tying rakhis on AR personnel was “an insult to the Naga martyrs” and has brought shame to all the Nagas.