Kohima, June 24: The simmering tensions surrounding the Naga political issue have erupted into a three-way war of words, with the Naga National Council/Federal Government of Nagaland (NNC-FGN) becoming the latest organisation to join an escalating exchange of accusations involving the Working Committee of Naga National Political Groups (WC-NNPG) and the Naga People’s Front (NPF).
The latest rebuttal comes amid growing differences among Naga political stakeholders over the direction of the Indo-Naga peace process, the controversial oil exploration agreement involving Nagaland and Assam, and the broader question of who is safeguarding Naga interests.
The verbal sparring began when the WC-NNPG accused the NPF of undermining the peace process and compromising Naga aspirations, citing the party’s stand on the June 11 oil exploration Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and the departure of former interlocutor R.N. Ravi.
Hitting back on Monday, the NPF dismissed the allegations as “baseless and divisive”, insisting that the Naga political issue transcends individual leaders, political parties and organisations. The party cautioned against deepening divisions at a time when Nagas face critical challenges that require collective wisdom and unity.
The NPF also rejected allegations that it had prevented members of the Nagaland Gaon Bura Federation from meeting the Prime Minister, calling the claim “false”. It maintained that the Gaon Buras should focus on their traditional responsibilities relating to village administration and customary governance.
On allegations concerning former interlocutor R.N. Ravi’s transfer, the NPF said appointments and transfers of Government of India representatives are solely the prerogative of the Centre and cannot be attributed to any political party in Nagaland.
Addressing the contentious oil exploration MoU signed by India, Assam and Nagaland, the party acknowledged public concerns over ownership of natural resources but argued that the issue cannot be viewed in isolation from the decades-old Assam-Nagaland boundary dispute. It noted that oil and mineral exploration activities in disputed areas had been taking place long before the recent agreement and cautioned against reducing a complex issue to a single MoU.
Reiterating its commitment to an “inclusive and honourable” political settlement, the NPF recalled the September 2024 consultative meeting convened by the Nagaland government, where tribal bodies, church organisations, civil society groups, student unions, MPs and MLAs had unanimously urged the Centre to appoint a political-level interlocutor with full authority to advance negotiations.
The party also drew attention to the recent killing of six Naga civilians in Naga-inhabited areas of Manipur, saying the safety and security of Naga communities should remain a priority even as political talks continue.
“The Naga people do not want endless debate. They want a just, honourable, acceptable and inclusive political solution that protects their history, identity, rights and future,” the NPF said.
The entry of the NNC-FGN into the dispute marks a fresh escalation in the public exchange, with the organisation issuing its own rebuttal against the NPF. The latest intervention has transformed what began as a disagreement between the WC-NNPG and the NPF into a wider political confrontation among key Naga stakeholders.
Political observers say the public sparring reflects deepening differences over strategy and representation in the peace process at a time when expectations remain high for a long-awaited settlement to the decades-old Naga political issue.
