Working Committee (WC), Naga National Political Groups (NNPGs) has demanded that chief minister Neiphiu Rio withdraw from any Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Assam over the disturbed, unresolved boundary areas from any attempt for exploration of mineral resources are they are “guarded by historical and political Naga sanctity and therefore, immoral and unacceptable to stakeholders.”
WC, NNPGs through its media cell, asserted that any MoU signed with the government of Assam at the present crucial juncture would be considered a direct attempt to sell off Naga rights and warned that the “consequences would be widespread and unimaginable”. WC pointed out that both Assam and Nagaland do not have any power to negotiate or enter into mutual agreements on oil exploration or any sharing contract on the unresolved border areas, as the entire matter had been subjected to intense political negotiations between the Centre and WC, NNPGs.
WC, NNPGs also reminded that the subject remained as a core part of “Indo-Naga political talks” which was negotiated and awaiting final agreement between the Centre and Naga negotiators. It said that both Assam and Nagaland governments were only caretaker governments as far as the disputed areas were concerned. WC asked Assam and Nagaland governments not to forget the past history of violence and conflict along the borders that resulted in loss of hundreds of innocent lives and police personnel. It cautioned that the “handshakes should not invite another round of bloodshed”.
According to WC, there were armed revolutionary movements fighting for the right to safeguard their historical political rights in both the regions and therefore the MoU would be premature and unwise as it could not wash away the stain of thousand bloods. It warned that the proposed MoU on Exploration and Production activities in the un-demarcated border would have serious consequences in the areas.
Further, WC advised political leaders not to take the peaceful situation as a licence to do anything they wish on land and resources and warned the leaders that they would be held solely responsible for any repercussion in the disputed areas.
“Let it be known that Nagas are sole land owners in the disturbed area belt and they have every right to adopt any measure to protect historical and customary rights over land against blatant misuse of power and authority by embezzlers and profiteers,” WC declared.
Further, WC said elected representatives of Nagaland from oil-bearing areas of Mon, Longleng, Mokokchung, Wokha, Niuland, Dimapur and Peren, must understand that the proposed MoU on oil exploration by the “autocratic-like government” was another scam to loot the future of Naga people. Pointing out that the onus was on the legislators to make their position clear on the matter, WC insisted that the commitment to work for Indo-Naga political solution must be applied in letter and spirit. It noted that ignoring the stakeholders, the current dispensation appeared to be creating an economic platform to drain the wealth of future generations.
WC, NNPGs disclosed that it was also disturbed because the “opposition-less government in Nagaland was increasingly exhibiting traits of authoritarianism”. It urged the people to respond when their political and historical rights were shelved into cold storage and societal fabric was twisted roughly through economic imbalances.
WC also declared that it has not surrendered ancestral land to any neighbouring State and stressed that the political difficulty of Assam leadership in giving back boundaries was a matter to be resolved by them. It said Naga history was clear on this subject and that it believed peaceful resolution of Nagaland-Assam boundary matter would be in the interest of all parties.
WC stated that it anticipated a mutually agreeable position on the matter, claiming that the Centre had clearly understood the Naga position and aspirations on the historical, political and possible administrative realignments. In conclusion, the Naga group urged upon Nagaland chief minister to understand the irrefutable body of work that WC, NNPGs in consultation with Naga tribes and relevant civil society bodies undertook during and after political negotiations with the Centre as all these facts were on the table.
It may be mentioned that Assam and Nagaland chief ministers Himanta Biswa Sarma and Neiphiu Rio had agreed in principle to go ahead with oil exploration in areas along their disputed boundary for the economic benefit of both states. According to PTI report, Sarma and Rio reached an understanding during a meeting Thursday night, hours after Assam and Arunachal Pradesh governments signed an agreement to resolve their over five-decade-old border dispute.
Wednesday, August 27, 2025