DIMAPUR, Dec 2: The Working Committee of the Naga National Political Groups (WC-NNPG) has emphasised that any final Indo-Naga political settlement must be firmly rooted in historical realities while simultaneously recognising contemporary political realities, warning Naga apex tribal bodies against what it termed as selective amnesia at this crucial juncture in Naga political history.
In a detailed statement issued on Tuesday, WC-NNPG convenor N. Kitovi Zhimomi reminded apex tribal hohos of their significant involvement between 2016 and 2019, during which they extensively consulted with NNPG leaders and voluntarily issued joint statements as key stakeholders in the political process. The committee noted that many of those leaders are still alive and “relevant to the Indo-Naga political context.”
Reiterating the origins of the 2017 Agreed Position, the WC-NNPG said the document was the result of prolonged consultations involving tribal hohos, churches, prayer groups, intellectuals and community custodians. It described the agreed position as a “refined political thought process,” shaped through months of dialogue prior to its signing on November 17, 2017.
The statement highlighted that before entering formal negotiations with the Government of India (GoI) in October 2017, the committee had held extensive consultations with communities and civil society organisations across Nagaland, Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. It said the shared understanding was that while the Indian government should honour Naga history and identity, Nagas must also accept the “practical difficulties” faced by New Delhi.
According to the WC-NNPG, its negotiating team adopted a “calm, precise and factual” approach, avoiding rhetorical or overly emotional positions. It said every agreed point was formally documented and shared with stakeholders to maintain transparency.
The committee also criticised what it called “historical inconsistencies and distortions” that have emerged in recent years, arguing that such narratives fail to reflect either the GoI’s standpoint or the broader public’s understanding of the political process.
On the 2015 Framework Agreement, the WC-NNPG alleged that the NSCN (IM) abruptly cut communication with the Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR), civil society groups and tribal organisations on the day of signing, leaving the public “in the dark” about the contents of the agreement. The committee pointed out that no tribal or church representatives were present at the signing in New Delhi, and that there were no celebrations in Nagaland that night—unlike in Manipur, where Nagas organised candlelight programmes.
“Very soon, the GoI realised the soul and spirit of the Naga political movement was absent from the ceremony,” the statement said.
The WC-NNPG underscored the urgency of concluding the Naga political issue, citing the rapidly growing number of educated Naga youth entering the job market each year. It said today’s generation is well-informed about Naga history and also conscious of “which leaders are playing with their futures.”
While reaffirming that Naga history, culture and political aspirations continue to be shared across Naga-inhabited regions, the committee acknowledged the practical limitations of achieving territorial integration at present. It said Nagas will continue to coexist with Meiteis, Kukis, Mizos, Ahoms and Arunachalis, and must work towards cooperation in cultural and historical domains.
This pragmatic understanding formed the basis of a key clause in the 2017 Agreed Position, where both sides recognised Naga rights to self-determination “with due regard to contemporary political realities.”
The WC-NNPG concluded that the path ahead for Nagas must be shaped by a balanced approach—one that honours historical identity while adapting to present-day political realities—as stakeholders navigate the final stages of the settlement process.
