Imphal: National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN-IM) Chairman Q. Tuccu has urged the Naga people to remain united and resist what he described as India’s “colonial policies” and attempts to undermine a principle-based political settlement by allegedly using Kuki groups as proxies.
Speaking on the 11th anniversary of the signing of the 2015 Indo-Naga Framework Agreement, Tuccu reiterated the organisation’s demand that the Government of India implement the agreement in both letter and spirit to bring the long-pending Naga peace process to an honourable conclusion.
Tuccu claimed that the Naga political issue continues to attract international attention and alleged that some Indian leaders are pursuing colonial-era strategies to delay a final settlement. He further accused the authorities of attempting to weaken the peace process by allegedly deploying “surrogate Kuki forces” against the Nagas.
Referring to the ongoing debate over a separate Naga national flag and constitution, Tuccu said the discussion becomes irrelevant once sovereignty is recognised. He described the flag and constitution as integral elements of sovereignty and expressed confidence that the remaining issues could be resolved through bilateral negotiations.
To mark the anniversary of the Framework Agreement, thousands of Nagas participated in rallies and commemorative programmes across the hill districts of Manipur, including Ukhrul, Senapati, Tamenglong and Chandel. Several civil society organisations and student bodies also reaffirmed their support for the agreement.
The Indo-Naga Framework Agreement was signed on August 3, 2015, following the 1997 ceasefire between the Government of India and the NSCN-IM. The agreement was intended to establish the broad principles for a comprehensive political settlement and pave the way for a lasting resolution of the decades-old Naga conflict.