NSCN-IM expresses concern over Nagaland Minister's comments

Newmai News Network
DIMAPUR, Jun 27: The NSCN-IM has expressed its concern over the reported comments of a Nagaland minister on occasions. According to the NSCN-IM, Temjen Imna Along, Minister for Higher and Technical Education, Government of Nagaland, has been making "nonsensical statements, insensitive of the Naga people’s struggle and sacrifice".
In a statement, the NSCN-IM said that Temjen Imna Along had made a statement earlier that "Nagas are Indians" for which he faced condemnation from various quarters. "Untamed as he is, again he made the statement that non-Nagas should find a place in the Nagaland Legislative Assembly," the NSCN-IM stated. The NSCN-IM also said that Temjen is talking in the manner making himself an "authoritative person" to decide the political destiny of the Nagas simply to be in good book with his political boss in New Delhi.
"Under the given situation where the Nagas are placed in a critical stage, it is never the desire of NSCN to particularize any Naga political leader on the issue related to Naga national identity because we want everyone, irrespective of political affiliation, to work together in unison on Naga issue without taking any divergent stand," said the NSCN-IM, while adding, "But, if somebody started exploiting his position and take liberty to make idiotic statement which has a direct bearing on the historical and national identity of the Nagas, it becomes a serious matter which needs to be condemned and tackled in proper perspective".
Terming it as unfortunate, the NSCN-IM said that a person of "typical character" like Temjen has appeared in the Naga political scenario. Such a person is now lowering the credibility of the Naga political leaders in defense of Naga’s national identity, the NSCN-IM further said. "We are constrained to denounce Mr.Temjen for his repeated statement that goes against the national interest of the Nagas. Let there be no further dilution of the credibility of other Naga Ministers/MLAs like Temjen has done. The sanctity of Naga history is not to be tampered with for vested interests," it added.
The NSCN-IM said that Temjen cannot afford to make a mockery of Naga’s political history. "Nagas have come a long way ever since it declared Naga Independence on 14th August, 1947," it pointed out. The Government of India started the bloody and brutal suppression since 1954, leaving a trail of blood, sweat and tears, said the NSCN-IM. The First Indo-Naga Ceasefire of 1964 ended up with nothing. However, the Second Indo-Naga Ceasefire of 1997 has given much for the Nagas to rejoice as the Government of India gave recognition to the unique history and situation of the Nagas, it also said. According to the NSCN-IM, when the historic Framework Agreement was signed on  August 3, 2015 the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi stated that he acknowledged the unique history and culture of the Nagas and referred to the Nagas as brave and dignified people. "The Framework Agreement recognizes the sovereign identity of the Nagas," it added.
The NSN-IM then said that Temjen should reconcile himself to the ground reality of Naga national identity in the context of the ongoing Indo-Naga political talks and stand himself as a responsible Naga, lest he face further condemnation from the Nagas. "He must bridle himself from making reckless and misleading statements to undo the hard earned historical and political identity of the Nagas that has gained worldwide recognition as a separate national entity," the NSCN-IM statement added.