A mammoth gathering of around 30,000 rallyists took to street of Senapati at the Naga People’s Rally at Senapati on Wednesday. The rally was taken out in all Naga Hill districts of Manipur pressing the Government of India to resolve the decades long pending Indo-Naga political issue based on the 3 August 2015, Framework Agreement signed between the Government of India and NSCN-IM.

Addressing the gathering, Solomon Arow, President, Naga Peoples’ Organization (NPO), Senapati called the day as historic adding no such gathering was seen in the past. He said that based on the principle of co-existence and shared sovereignty, the Framework Agreement was signed eight years ago and that through the FA, GoI recognized the sovereignty of the Nagas.

Arow stressed on “Inclusive peaceful co-existence of the two entities sharing sovereign power” on the FA, stating that it means “all Nagas and their territories in different administrative units and political camps are to be included in the agreement.” Co-existence of the two entities means that Nagas and Union of India will co-exist, he further elaborated.

Download Nagaland Tribune app on Google Play

The NPO president mentioned that the Nagas await with resilience and determination for the Government of India to act on what has been agreed upon. The world has come to know much better of the Naga political issue because of the historic FA and how the Nagas stood the ground to up-hold the document which is now considered sacrosanct and thus inviolable, he said.

Further, Arrow appealed all to be patient and keep waiting prayerfully with renewed hope and pledged allegiance to the Framework Agreement, that whatever may betide, the Nagas shall stand by it till the last drop of their blood.

Ng. Lorho, President, United Naga Council (UNC) stated that the gathering was an earnest desire that the long-awaited political solution based on the Framework Agreement of 3 August 2015 is realised at the earliest.

He said that the struggle of the Naga independence started before he was born. 60 years passed and Political solution is yet to arrive. Lorho explained that the ceasefire agreement between the GoI and the NSCN was declared in 1997 on the grounds that the Indo-Naga issue is political and not a military problem and after mutual acceptance that talks shall be held without conditions and shall be at the highest level. It is but to prepare the ground for principle-based negotiations and solution, he said, until on 3rd August, 2015, FA was signed, recognising the Indo-Naga issue as a political conflict.

The framework agreement clearly stated the GoI recognised the unique history and position of the Nagas which means, the Nagas were never been part of India or Burma or any other power, neither by consent not by conquest, that sovereignty lies with the people which means Sovereignty of Nagalim lies with the Naga people, he further said. Accordingly, the parties agreed to share sovereign power as defined in the competencies between the sovereign Indian people and sovereign Naga people, that it will provide for an enduring inclusive new relation of peaceful coexistence of the two entities i.e., Indians and Nagas embracing all Nagas wherever they are, including all political groups, that the details and execution plans will be worked out and implemented shortly. Lorho added.

The UNC President asserted that Flag and Constitution are a constituent part of sovereignty and therefore, there should be no ambiguity about it.

The Framework Agreement was signed by NSCN as an independent entity and an independent nation with the GoI and not as a subordinate of the Union of India, he clarified, adding that it acknowledges all the sacrifices made till now in the struggle for independence.

But 8 years after signing of the framework agreement, the details and the executions are yet to be worked out and implemented and as such, the political will and sincerity of the GoI is in question, he stated. Lorho said that the fate of the Framework Agreement hangs in balance as the GoI fiddle with what has been agreed upon.

The tolerance and patience of the Nagas cannot be taken for weakness, and in the event of any collapse of the political talks, the UNC President stated that the Government of India shall be held responsible. The Nagas can never be divided by any artificial district, state or international boundaries, but shall stand its ground on Naga national principle and remain united, no matter what may come.

A memorandum was submitted to Prime Minister through the Deputy Commissioner, Senapati at the end of the rally.

Slogans like “No Solution, No Rest”, “We Demand Political Solution” “Implement Framework Agreement”, “Govt of India Stop Playing Decisive Policy,” etc were shouted by the rallyists.