Two senior leaders of the NSCN-IM have retracted their earlier comments questioning former Nagaland Chief Minister S C Jamir’s right to speak on the Naga political issue.
The move followed a warning from the Ao Senden, the apex organisation of the Ao Naga community, which had asked the leaders to withdraw their remarks.
Joint Declaration Issued
NSCN-IM Deputy Ato Kilonser V S Atem and Steering Committee member R H Raising issued a joint declaration on Tuesday, withdrawing comments they had made about Jamir on September 16.
The two leaders said their remarks were not intended to hurt the sentiments of the Ao Senden and formally retracted them.
Ao Senden Had Set 15-Day Deadline
The withdrawal came after the Ao Senden gave the NSCN-IM leaders 15 days to take back their statements.
The organisation had warned that it would consider further action in the broader interest of the Naga people if the remarks were not withdrawn within the stipulated period.
Dispute Followed Jamir’s Meeting With Bhagwat
The controversy began after Jamir met RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat in New Delhi on September 10.
During the meeting, Jamir reportedly urged Bhagwat to use his influence with the Centre to push for an early political settlement to the longstanding Naga issue.
A few days later, Atem questioned Jamir’s authority to speak on the Naga political question and said the former Chief Minister did not represent or advocate for the Naga people.
The remarks subsequently drew a response from the Ao Senden.
Ao Senden’s Position on Naga Political Issue
The Ao Senden has maintained that the Naga political issue should not be treated as the exclusive domain of any individual, organisation or faction.
It has also argued that differences that have developed during the Naga political journey should not prevent individual Nagas from expressing their views on the issue.
Naga Peace Talks Continue
The NSCN-IM has been in negotiations with the Centre since the 1997 ceasefire agreement.
The two sides later signed the Framework Agreement in August 2015, but a comprehensive political settlement has yet to be reached.
Issues including the NSCN-IM’s demands for a separate Naga flag and constitution and the integration of Naga-inhabited areas have remained among the major unresolved matters in the negotiations.