At a time when it is holding parleys with the Centre to find a solution to the decades-old Naga problem, the Working Committee (WC) of six Naga National Political Groups (NNPGs) on Friday took serious note of defection of members of various Naga groups. It warned that civil and military authorities of respective political groups would be empowered to identify and deal with “unprincipled” members before they disturb, destabilise and destroy the unity and integrity of Naga political groups and derail the ongoing political dialogue with the Government of India.
The committee also asked the defectors within the six NNPGs to rejoin the parent organisations at the earliest.
Holding an emergency meeting in Delhi to discuss the issue on Friday, the working committee appealed to these “restless and unsettled” national workers to recommit and rededicate themselves to whichever Naga political groups they were affiliated and owe allegiance to, according to a release issued by working committee convener N Kitovi Zhimom, and four co-convener, Wangtin Naga, Zhopra Vero, Kiumukum and Z Hozheto Chophy.
The six NNPGs comprising GPRN/NSCN, FGN, NNC (Parent Body), NPGN/NNC (NA), NSCN (R) and NNC/GDRN (NA) came together by forming an interim platform christened ‘Working Group” on December 13, 2016 and agreed to work together in the interest of the Naga people as a whole. The NSCN (IM) and NSCN (K) are not part of the group.
The NSCN (IM) and NNPGs are holding separate talks with the Government of India to hammer out a solution to the Indo-Naga political problem. The NSCN (IM) had signed “framework agreement” with the Centre on August 3, 2015. Both the Centre and NSCN (IM) claim they are inching towards a final solution to the Naga issue.
The working committee of NNPGs said it signed joint declarations on May 13, 2017, September 19, 2017, October 6, 2017 and reaffirmed the same in January this year upholding the principle of reconciliation and unity in letter and spirit so as not to entertain any defection among the NNPGs. It added it knew well that there would be restless, selfish and immature individuals within NNPGs who would seek higher ranks and plump assignments through defection with little regard for the progress and status of the Indo-Naga political dialogue.
