KOHIMA: A delegation of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim-Isak Muivah (NSCN-IM) is set to visit the national capital to engage in talks with the Centre to find a resolution to the vexed Naga political issue. The delegation will comprise the top leaders of the outfit and they will meet the representatives of the Government of India. Reports in the local press reveal that the crucial meeting is scheduled to take place on August 21.
The general secretary of NSCN-IM, Thuingaleng Muivah, is primed to journey to Delhi in advance, with his departure scheduled for August 19. This awaited step happens as the Naga political situation is being closely watched, standing at the crossroads of past dreams and present talks.
Earlier, on the eve of India’s Independence Day, in his address during the 77th Naga Independence Day celebrations at the NSCN-IM headquarters camp situated at Hrebron, Muivah, had underscored the unwavering connection between Naga sovereignty and the demand for a distinct flag and constitution.
Muivah, an authoritative voice in the Naga political spectrum, emphasised the undeniable role that a flag and constitution play in the broader framework of national sovereignty.
In his speech, he had asserted, “It is a universally accepted truth that flag and constitution are constituent parts of sovereignty. There is no ambiguity about it.”
Reiterating that Nagas have all the right to build their nation state, the NSCN-IM general secretary, in his elaborate address, claimed that the Indian leaders understand the demand for the separate flag and constitution and “they must take the stand to speak the truth”. He also stressed that the demand for a Naga nation state shouldn’t be seen as regression on others’ rights as “…Nagas are not begging for land from others”.
As the NSCN (IM) delegation readies itself for the forthcoming talks in Delhi, the eyes of the region remain firmly fixed on this critical juncture.
