General (Retired) Niki Sumi, President of the NSCN-K (Niki) faction, has accused several Naga organizations of acting as agents of the Indian government and undermining the Naga political struggle. In a press conference held at the Ceasefire Monitoring Office in Padumpukhuri, Dimapur, on October 11 Sumi called for Naga unity to strengthen the Naga movement and counter external influences. He criticized civil society groups for turning against the NSCN factions, asserting that such actions serve Indian interests rather than the Naga cause.
Addressing recent allegations of abduction and extortion against his organization, Sumi dismissed the accusations as baseless. The controversy emerged after the Dimapur Ao Youth Organisation (DAYO) and the Business Association of Nagas (BAN) called for the arrest of NSCN-K (Niki) members accused of abducting two Naga entrepreneurs on October 10. The organizations have given the police 48 hours to make arrests. However, Sumi clarified that the two individuals were not abducted but were invited for discussions about unpaid taxes owed by their employer.
Sumi rejected the idea of prosecuting his members under Indian law, stating, “Our organization operates outside the Indian Constitution, and applying Indian law to us is illogical.” He further claimed that while they are open to discussions with the youth organizations, any such demands should be brought directly to the NSCN/GPRN leadership.
He accused other Naga factions and the state government of corruption and mismanagement, asserting that these groups have failed to honor the core principles of the Naga movement.
Download Nagaland Tribune app on Google Play
According to Sumi, the demand for “One Government, One Tax” is valid only when Naga civil society unites. He expressed frustration over internal divisions and called for greater cohesion among Naga organizations to advance the political struggle.
Sumi also defended taxation by the NSCN factions as vital to the survival of the movement, condemning those who oppose it as betraying the Naga cause. He acknowledged the calls to review the Ceasefire Ground Rules, which DAYO and BAN have criticized, but noted that any amendments would need approval from the Government of India.
As the deadline for police action on the alleged abductions approaches, Sumi dismissed criticisms of his faction’s methods, emphasizing that the NSCN is a political organization with its own laws and discipline. He questioned the authority of civil society groups to influence either the Government of India or the police, stating that any legal matters should be resolved through Naga federal law.
