Political aspirations of Naga people require practical and physical actions: Niki Sumi

March 22, 2023 21 Views No Comment

Morung Express News
Dimapur | March 22

President of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN)-K (Niki Sumi), Niki Sumi today stated that in order for the political aspirations of the Naga people to materialise, it requires both practical and physical actions by all right-thinking individuals. “Everyone’s personal contribution is required to build a unified Naga nation which had been laid out in by our forefathers in the past,” he said.

Speaking during the 43th Naga Republic Day Celebration at the group’s Cease Fire Supervisory Board (CFSB) office, Padumpukhuri on March 21, he lamented that today Naga society has been fragmented into different interest groups all fighting against one another. “How did we become so disunited? Everyone has gone their own way thinking about their selfish desires of promoting their tribe relation or kin,” he remarked.

NSCN-K (Niki Sumi) has been in cease-fire agreement with the Government of India (GoI) since 2021. It was extended for another period of one year in September 8, 2022.

Sumi highlighted that, before the coming of the British or even before knowing who they were, Nagas were always sovereign. “Our forefathers had earlier envisioned and brought about the gradual unification of the Naga people under a common voice and identity,” he added. But regrettably even though most of the people are educated today, society appeared to be more disunited than ever before, he said.

As such, those who are capable should help others realise the short-comings that have brought about this circumstance, be it the intellectuals or the political class, he viewed. Above all else, he stressed that practical action should be the way to achieve the desired goals of the Naga people.

The NSCN-K (Niki Sumi) has earlier emerged out of NSCN-K Khaplang’s faction after the latter had abrogated the cease-fire agreement in 2015. However, in December 2020, the group led by Niki Sumi had issued a statement informing of its decision to revive the Ceasefire with immediate effect “by revoking the earlier decision of unilateral abrogation” taken in 2015.

According to a statement issued by the group, they came to the negotiating table in order pave the way for fulfilling the Naga people’s desire for lasting peace. Currently they are part of the 7 Naga National Political Groups (NNPGs) who are in talks with the GoI for resolving the Naga peace talks.

Earlier, welcome address was delivered by Mhonbemo Tsanglao, Speaker of National Tatar Hoho (NTR) while invocation was given by Viheshe Yeputho, Deputy Kilonser, Ministry of Religious Affairs. A special number, ‘Live like a Warrior’ was performed by Toshi Yimkhiung during the programme.