Kohima: Rh Raising of the NSCN (IM) collective leadership shut down former Nagaland Chief Minister Dr. SC Jamir on September 16. The rejection followed Jamir’s recent sit-down with RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat. Raising spoke to reporters at the Nagaland Police Complex in Chümoukedima. He made his stance clear. "He is not the advocate of the Naga people," Raising said. He labeled Jamir as an Indian politician who lacks the standing to weigh in on the Naga cause.
The comments came after a meeting between the Political Affairs Committee of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly and the NSCN (IM). Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio led the government delegation alongside Deputy Chief Ministers Y Patton and TR Zeliang. Raising offered no details on the private session, calling it a basic consultation. He pushed the timeline for a political solution back onto New Delhi. He stated the ball is in their court.
Rio confirmed the talks covered the long-standing Indo-Naga political dispute. He hinted that an apex committee for future discussions is currently under negotiation. The Chief Minister refused to engage with the controversy surrounding Jamir.
The state cabinet met shortly after the main session ended. MLA Achumbemo Kikon joined the group to discuss oil exploration in the Disputed Area Belt along the Assam border. No firm plans were finalized. Kikon emphasized that the state must protect local land and resources under Article 371 (A). Officials are now working to smooth over tensions following a recent incident in the border region to keep the peace between the two states.
Updated at 17th September 2026 at 9:48am
Deputy Ato Kilonser V S Atem backed Raising’s dismissal of the former Chief Minister. Atem argued that Jamir and his associates lack any mandate to weigh in on the negotiations, dismissing his recent statements as talk for the sake of talking.
While the state government discussed the Disputed Area Belt, internal accounts of the meeting vary. Atem claimed that oil exploration never made it onto the agenda, contradicting earlier reports that the topic was addressed during the session. The consultation involved six members of the NSCN (IM) collective leadership at Rhododendron Hall.
Chief Minister Rio clarified that the Nagaland People's Front had already addressed Jamir’s remarks through a formal statement, which is why he bypassed the topic during his own media briefing. Rio confirmed the push for a new apex committee is specifically aimed at resolving the impasse causing the delay in peace talks.
Updated at 17th September 2026 at 1:50pm
The NSCN (IM) pointed to a history of friction with Jamir, with leadership reiterating they have viewed him as an Indian political figure since the beginning of the peace process. VS Atem noted that statements from Jamir and his circle are merely talk for the sake of the party.
Reports on the meeting agenda remain tangled. While some accounts suggested oil exploration in the Disputed Area Belt was on the table, NSCN (IM) leader VS Atem flatly denied that oil was part of the official discussion.
Chief Minister Rio noted that he stayed quiet on the Jamir issue because the Nagaland People's Front had already issued a formal stance, sparing his own office from addressing the controversy directly.
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