The NSCN-IM has stated that the Government of India (GoI) has shown its seriousness on the Indo-Naga peace talks by giving Z Plus category of security to the Collective Leadership of NSCN (I-M).
“The Government of India (Gol) giving Z Plus category of security to the Collective Leadership of NSCN (I-M) is a matter of Gol showing seriousness in dealing with the leaders who carry the Naga political issue as they have come to New Delhi on Gol invitation to carry forward the Naga political talk. Anyone who tried to draw unparallel comparison is simply going superfluous,” the ministry of information and publicity (MIP) said in a statement.
The MIP stated that the genesis of the ongoing Naga political talks beginning from 1997 onwards after ceasefire came into effect. It was the then Prime Minister PV Narashimha Rao who came all the way to Paris (France) in 1995 to meet NSCN (I-M) leaders Isak Chishi Swu and Th Muivah, it said.
It further recounted that the NSCN (I-M) put the condition to start political negotiation if the GoI recognises Naga issue as political and stopped terming it as India's "Internal Law and Order Issue". Ultimately, ceasefire was officially declared on August 1, 1997. It was agreed that political dialogue shall be at the highest level, i.e. Prime Minister Level without precondition and outside India in a Third Country. Accordingly, talks were held abroad in third countries, it stated.
While stating that official recognition was given to the "Unique history and situation of the Nagas" with the signing of the Amsterdam Joint Communique on July 11, 2020, it said that this was considered as the first realistic step forward in the political negotiation.
“To push the talk faster with closer interaction, the Gol invited NSCN leaders to come to New Delhi giving full commitment to take care of their security concern. Once the Collective Leadership reached New Delhi, they were provided Z plus category security arrangement with IB quarter as their official residence. They were extended a high profile security arrangement given that they carry the Naga political mandate and they hold the Naga issue, and that the Gol has signed a ceasefire with NSCN (I-M) to pave the way for a solution. This also reflects the seriousness of the Gol towards NSCN (I-M) leadership and the issue they represent,” it said.
It maintained that the GoI knows who carried the Naga political issue and no group can mislead the Naga people on Naga issue.
“Who is doing what to defend the political identity of the Naga struggle is already laid bare before the people. What is delaying the peace process needs no further elaboration,” it added.
It also said that the Framework Agreement of August 3, 2015 being the initiative of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the signing ceremony done in his presence along with other high dignitaries of the Government of India including Defence Minister, Indian Army Chief and National Security Advisor (NSA) and witnessed by the whole world as it was telecast live across the world is the political significance of the Framework Agreement that was mutually agreed upon and signed.
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