Kohima: The Concerned Naga Forum of Nagaland (CNFN) slammed the state government and the NSCN (IM) on Monday. They accused both parties of working as anti-solution lobbyists. They want to junk years of political progress. The forum claims recent moves to appoint a Union Minister of State as an interlocutor will force fresh negotiations. This effectively trashes the 2015 Framework Agreement and the 2017 Agreed Position.
Negotiations ended on October 31, 2019, under then-Governor R N Ravi. The Nagaland Legislative Assembly later adopted these agreements on January 17, 2020. CNFN alleges that Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and NSCN (IM) leader Th Muivah lobbied to remove Ravi. They believe this ruined the peace process. The forum argues that the Political Affairs Committee demand for a new minister-led team ignores years of work. “The very PAC's demand implies that all those efforts of years invested by the successive Interlocutors and the Naga negotiators... are literally considered worthless and therefore treated as trash,” the group stated.
Public life remains difficult. Despite official ceasefires, residents face kidnappings, threats, and multiple taxes. Dimapur was once a commercial center. Now it is a dying city. The forum also highlighted internal conflict within the NSCN (IM). Deputy Ato Kilonser V S Atem supports the new committee plan. Meanwhile, Chairman Q Tuccu claims to still honor the original pact. The forum wants a clear answer from the outfit regarding its true position.
Questions linger regarding Chief Minister Rio's August 15, 2026, announcement. The forum wants to know if the Centre truly authorized this move. They are pushing for an official statement on whether the twin agreements are dead. Meanwhile, the Working Committee of Naga National Political Groups continues to demand a settlement based on the original 2017 terms.
Comments