Kohima: The Working Committee of the Naga National Political Groups warned the Nagaland government to stop all oil and gas exploration plans. They want a deal first. Convenor N. Kitovi Zhimomi issued the statement just one day before a July 24 meeting of the State Cabinet Sub-Committee on Oil and Natural Gas Exploration and Production. The group maintains that any resource extraction before an acceptable and honourable Indo-Naga political settlement is immoral.
Naga oil fields remain a core issue in ongoing peace talks. The committee claims the final settlement will dictate how these resources are managed. They pushed the state government to seek development funds from New Delhi for schools, hospitals, and roads rather than chasing quick oil revenue. The organization warned that it will fight to protect the ancestral lands of the Naga people.
The group described the proposed exploration as a betrayal of the past. They stated the move would amount to “attempting to suck the very blood of thousands of Naga freedom martyrs seeped into the sacred soil” and urged the government to abandon the looting plan. History defines their stance. The committee traced the conflict back to 1832 when Capt. Francis Jenkins and Lieut. R.B. Pemberton arrived in the region. Since 1947, thousands have died for their cause. The Agreed Position with India recognizes the right of the Nagas to determine their own future and protects their distinct identity.
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