The Working Committee, Naga National Political Groups (WC, NNPGs) has said that NSCN-IM has buried the idea of Naga integration. It stated the eight Naga legislators of Manipur and the United Naga Forum, who it claimed are “remote controlled” by NSCN-IM, by joining the Meiteis, have made their intentions clear about “their inseparable political and administrative future under Manipur state”.

“Let IM leaders handle Manipur Naga problem, Nagaland can take care of itself”, WC, NNPGs said in its statement issued by the Media Cell. It added that it is against Naga tradition to interfere on another family or clan’s decision on land and membership, and therefore “Nagas in Myanmar, Arunachal, Assam and Nagaland do not object to the demand of Manipur Nagas because they are the masters over their land.” The committee also stated that Nagas in Manipur have its support and solidarity and that “The same courtesy is expected.”

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WC, NNPGs said these developments have proven its claim that NSCN-IM’s demand for Naga integration was a “gimmick” and urged Naga people to take note of it. It also mentioned five instances in its statement to back its allegations:

1. As per Media statement on 13 June 2023, the Federation of Haomee (Tangkhul Elders) resolved to retrace Tangkhul-Meitei ancestral ties; to jointly defend the territorial integrity of Manipur state at all cost. These sort of inter community meetings having historical and cultural interest would never be held without the consent of Manipur Nagas in Hebron camp. This is treachery to the common objective yet no statement of substance. There was clear understanding by all parties.
2. On July 10, 2023, five persons including an IM official was arrested while transporting stolen Nagaland police arms and ammo to Manipur. How many un-intercepted vehicles have made their way to Manipur? The arrested accused is a mere sub inspector who cannot be more than an armoury key keeper. Who are the higher ranked police officers involved in this heinous crime of looting government arms?
3. In a recent viral video, an IM cadre confessed to being a part of a group assigned to transport arms and ammunition to Meiteis and also fight alongside PREPAK against another community. A subsequent dismissal video was made but the overall structural policy was unmistakable.
4. The 8 elected Manipuri Naga MLAs along with 28 Meitei MLAs in their 9th August written appeal to the Indian Prime Minister had sought implementation of National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Manipur including Naga districts. The camaraderie between UNC and COCOMI is being forged out of common hatred for Kukis. Here the UNC has lost the plot. It signals the death and burial of separate political administration for Nagas in Manipur, let alone integration with Nagaland state. UNC and 8 Naga MLAs have simply spelled out “WE DO NOT WANT NAGA INTEGRATION”. The 8 Naga MLAs and UNC are all remote controlled by IM, they have colluded and sold Naga integration formula to Kuki people and now Kuki MLAs are demanding from Government of India (Gol) a completely separate political administration for Kukis.
5. The Meiteis under COCOMI, Nagas under UNC and as declared by 8 MLAs in written, with the consent of NSCN IM have expressed their inseparable political and administrative future under Manipur state. Should Nagaland state government remain under siege by Nagas of Manipur even after they made their intention crystal clear? The indigenous tribes of Nagaland too must wake up from prolonged reverie.”

WC, NNPGs further alleged that “Manipur Nagas in IM” was preventing Nagaland Government to carry out Registration of Indigenous Inhabitants of Nagaland (RIIN) because they consider it “against social political interest of Nagas”.

“Who is running Nagaland state government?” the committee questioned and urged the Chief Minister to “differentiate between idealism and realism”.