NSCN (I-M) has blamed the government of India for the failure of “formal Indo-Naga talk” which generated much hype of solution being just round the corner and even as a Christmas gift to Nagas. NSCN (I-M) through its MIP said talks resumed two years after RN Ravi was replaced with A.K. Mishra but despite “all the hype as the government of India continues to indulge in political escapism on the very issues that is holding up the road to the Naga solution.”
NSCN (I-M) Nagas have been craving for solution for more than two decades after “Indo-Naga” talks started in 1997 but what was more important was how the government of India dealt with the “sentiment of the Naga people on the Naga flag and Yehzabo (constitution)” and for which these were the two core issues of pressing concern.
NSCN (I-M) reiterated that Naga flag was not just a piece of cloth to Nagas but “ a feeling of pride” that had led “hundreds of Naga martyrs to sacrifice their lives by just seeing the flag flying high in the sky.” It however claimed, that the government of India was “talking in different language to different negotiating Naga groups in the matter of Naga flag.”
NSCN (I-M) maintained that Naga issue was not a cultural issue that the government of India could change the Naga flag to a cultural symbol and forego the Naga political identity as symbolized by the Naga flag.
Responding to the making the Naga flag as a cultural flag, NSCN (I-M) said where was the need to drag the “Indo-Naga talks” for more than two decades, if the Naga issue was a cultural problem?
Again, it asked what where was the need “for Naglim to get admitted as a bona fide member of UNPO(Unrepresented Nations and People’s Organisation), if the Naga issue is a cultural based problem?”
MIP said ‘Nagalim’ was admitted to UNPO as the NSCN (I-M) was able to establish the historical and political credentials of Nagalim” before UNPA governing body that had nothing to do with cultural credentials.
NSCN (I-M) reaffirmed that as Naga flag is of “utmost importance for the Naga people and holds much spiritual value. It is the roof under which the feeling of nationalism and patriotism flourishes” and also a divine gift to Nagas, for which it will take the stand to defend it to the last man standing and not succumb to the flattering ‘post solution’ narrative which it said “ was a well laid trap”.
On speculations of early solution, NSCN (I-M) said “Christmas may come and go but the NSCN will not stop fighting to defend the Naga political identity.”
NSCN (I-M) said it was pertinent to recall that when the Government of India officially recognized the unique history and situation of the Nagas in 2002, the political interpretation was "no less than the recognition of the political identity of the Naga nation."
Significantly, this put a new meaning to the Indo-Naga political talks that ultimately led to the signing of the historic Framework Agreement on the August 3, 2015 giving due recognition to the sovereign identity of the Naga nation, NSCN (I-M) said.
But ironically, NSCN (I-M) said government of India was still pretentiously acting stubborn "as the crucial rounds of talks that focused on the Naga flag and the Constitution is driven to hang in balance. The stalemate created is unfortunate."