DIMAPUR, SEP 23 (NPN): Nagaland Tribes Council (NTC) has taken strong exception to remarks made against former Nagaland chief minister and former governor Dr. S.C. Jamir following a recent consultative meeting between the NSCN (I-M) and the State Government on the Indo-Naga political issue.
In a statement, NTC president C. Pankathung Lotha and general secretary C. Onen Walling said details of the consultative meeting had not been made public, but remarks describing the 95-year-old Naga leader as “nobody”, “no mandated person” and “no advocate” had generated strong reactions in Nagaland. NTC said reducing Jamir to an “old man in hurry” was “illogical, unpalatable and unacceptable”, adding that such remarks had further heightened the political atmosphere.
NTC also referred to what it said were four attempts on Jamir’s life, stating that these should have been sufficient reason to avoid actions that could further deepen divisions among Nagas. It alleged that the NSCN (I-M) had made a “deliberate attempt” to sow seeds of ill-feeling and division among Naga communities, which it described as a disservice to the Naga political movement.
It also questioned NSCN (I-M)’s position on the political agreement signed with Government of India on August 3, 2015. It said the agreement was entered into voluntarily after 18 years of ceasefire and negotiations, with the understanding that Naga political solution would be within the Constitution of India.
According to the NTC, the agreement was reached without the knowledge and consent of the other Naga political groups. It said six other Naga political groups subsequently signed their own agreement with the Centre on November 17, 2017. The council questioned the rationale behind what it described as the NSCN (I-M)’s reluctance to accept a solution based on the agreements already signed, pointing out that 11 years had passed since the Framework Agreement. It questioned what had changed after years of negotiations and agreements.
The NTC also questioned the State Government’s decision to hold the recent consultative meeting only with the NSCN (I-M), excluding the 6+1 Naga National Political Groups (NNPGs), which had also signed political agreements with the Government of India. The council said the oppositionless BJP-NPF government, as facilitator of the political process, should engage all stakeholders. It described the exclusion of the NNPGs as a “divide and rule” approach and alleged that such an approach could further deepen divisions among Naga political groups and communities.
The NTC maintained that the State Government’s responsibility as facilitator was to facilitate an early political settlement involving all stakeholders, and alleged that a partisan approach could prolong the political issue. It said the government’s primary responsibility was the welfare and well-being of all Naga communities.
On the remark describing Jamir as “an old man in hurry”, which the NTC attributed to State government adviser Achumbemo Kikon, the council said the matter should not be allowed to become a major political issue. It claimed the remark may have been influenced by an older Naga politician, while stating that Kikon should apologize if he had made the remark personally.
The council also raised historical issues concerning the participation of Tangkhul Nagas in the Naga political movement. It said Tangkhul Nagas from present-day Manipur had initially declined to join the Naga national movement when approached by the then NNO government in the 1960s, although some educated Tangkhuls later joined the movement around 1964-65.
The NTC further referred to developments following the 1975 Shillong Accord and alleged that one section of the NNC rejected the accord and later became associated with the NSCN. It also alleged that the group received external support and subsequently engaged in armed activities and internal violence.
Against this background, the council questioned what it described as a contradiction in the NSCN (I-M)’s political position, referring to its 1997 ceasefire with the Government of India and the 2015 Framework Agreement. It questioned why the group now appeared reluctant to accept a political resolution based on agreements it had earlier signed.
NTC appealed to the Naga public to reject further divisions in the name of the political issue and instead focus on peace, unity and development. It said the people had extended considerable accommodation and support to Naga groups and communities during the prolonged political turmoil.
The council also referred to the settlement of Tangkhul families in and around Dimapur, claiming that more than 13 to 14 villages had been established in the area and that land had been acquired for settlement and rehabilitation.
NTC urged the people to focus on social, economic, political and educational development for the younger generation rather than being influenced by what it termed political “bluffs” and “cheats”.
It also criticized the oppositionless State Government, alleging that political interests and the desire to retain power could take precedence over public welfare.
The council called upon the Naga public to demand a political settlement before the next State Assembly election scheduled for February-March 2028. It warned that failure to achieve a settlement could further worsen the situation.
NTC said the people had already endured years of conflict and bloodshed and around three decades of ceasefire and negotiations without a final settlement. It appealed for peace, unity and development, saying Nagas could no longer afford prolonged political uncertainty.
Thursday, September 24, 2026