Kohima: NSCN/GPRN (K) President Niki Sumi has accused “overground leaders and agents” of undermining efforts to resolve the Naga political issue, alleging collusion with the Government of India. Speaking at a media briefing in Padumpukhri on Saturday, Sumi reflected on the historical trajectory of the Naga movement, pointing to internal divisions and external interference as key reasons for the struggle’s loss of direction.
Tracing the roots of the Naga fight for sovereignty back to A.Z. Phizo, the leader who spearheaded the movement after World War II, Sumi questioned whether Phizo’s decision to ally with the Japanese during the war and later seek asylum in London derailed the momentum for independence. He emphasized that Nagas have historically been a sovereign people, resisting domination from external forces.
However, Sumi criticized the administrative changes that placed Nagaland under the Ministry of External Affairs, stating that these complications have contributed to the current political deadlock. While acknowledging the benefits of statehood, he said the Naga community remains divided over whether these gains have been truly meaningful.
Reflecting on past political milestones, Sumi pointed to the 1975 Shillong Accord as a turning point that led to division within the Naga movement. He criticized the role of certain “intellectual leaders” in the breakdown of early peace talks, which eventually led to the creation of the NSCN and its splintering into factions.
Sumi highlighted the current dilemma facing the Naga political struggle, caught between two critical agreements—the Agreed Position (AP) and the Framework Agreement (FA). He called for unity and a consolidated solution to reconcile the two, emphasizing the need for a unified leadership under the principle of “One Government, One Tax.”
In his closing remarks, Sumi urged greater unity among Naga political and civil groups, warning that continued fragmentation would only delay the realization of lasting peace and sovereignty for the Naga people.