Kohima, October 2: The Inner Line Regulation Commission (ILRC) of the Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) has strongly objected to the Rising People’s Party (RPP) over its recent statement referring to “non-Naga indigenous tribes” in Nagaland.
In a rejoinder issued on Tuesday, the NSF-ILRC questioned the validity of such terminology, asking, “Who are the non-Naga indigenous tribes in Nagaland?” The federation maintained that Nagas are the only indigenous people of Nagaland and other Naga-inhabited regions. While acknowledging that other tribes and communities have settled in Naga areas over time, it stressed that migrants cannot be considered indigenous, as doing so would undermine the identity of the Nagas, who have lived in the land “since time immemorial.”
The NSF highlighted the United Nations’ definition of “indigenous peoples,” saying it was designed to safeguard the unique identity of such communities. “The indigeneity of the Nagas to their land cannot be eroded by any factor whatsoever,” the statement read.
Backing the state government’s stance on the matter, the ILRC dismissed the RPP’s criticism—which described the omission of “non-Naga indigenous tribes” from police recruitment as poor policymaking—as “devoid of logic” and reflective of “utter ignorance.”
At the same time, the NSF clarified that it recognises non-Nagas who settled in Nagaland before statehood on December 1, 1963. It urged the government to grant these communities a “suitable status” for legal and official recognition, while appealing to them not to be misled by unfounded fears.
The federation further called on such groups to register their claims, ensuring their historical presence is duly recognised and not “diluted by newcomers or self-interested individuals.”
