According to a June 18 report published by The Sangai Express, a Manipur-based daily, Nagas are now allowed to have a separate passport and flag. At a public talk in Phungreitang, Manipur, RH Raising of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM) announced that the government of India had accepted this new status for Nagas. “He asserted that the Government of India clearly understands the Naga issue and is willing to resolve it,” reported The Sangai Express. “Nagas have never been an integral part of Indian [sic] nor had signed any agreement with the Government of India to merge into India union [sic].”
Support Independent Media
The media must be free and fair, uninfluenced by corporate or state interests. That's why you, the public, need to pay to keep news free.
ContributeA similar report was published by The North East Today, with the headline “GOI approves separate passport and flag for Nagas”.
On August 3, 2015, the separatist group NSCN-IM had signed the Naga peace accord with the Indian government. NSCN-IM’s aim is to establish Greater Nagaland or Nagalim (People’s Republic of Nagaland) and it runs a parallel government in Nagaland. The peace accord signed in August last year was considered to be a landmark for both India and Nagaland, and was expected to put an end to the conflict in this north-eastern state. Talks between the NSCN-IM and the government of India have been a closely-guarded secret that even the home ministry is not privy to, according to Hindustan Times.
Interestingly, at least local English dailies in Nagaland didn’t pay much heed to these developments. T Monalisa, editor of Nagaland Page, told Newslaundry, “Numerous leaders of various factions keep making such announcements. For us, the local people here, this is not an earthshaking announcement.” She added that, “There has been not any endorsement or official reaction from the Government of India.”
When asked whether NSCN-IM’s announcement represents a local demand and sentiments of Nagas, Monalisa said, “The general opinion amongst the local is that people have not given their mandate to any one of factions to represent them.”
Minister of State for Home Affairs, Kiren Rijiju, has clarified the Government’s position with the following tweet which effectively proves the The Sangai Express‘s report to be inaccurate:
Power NL-TNM Election Fund
General elections are around the corner, and Newslaundry and The News Minute have ambitious plans together to focus on the issues that really matter to the voter. From political funding to battleground states, media coverage to 10 years of Modi, choose a project you would like to support and power our journalism.
Ground reportage is central to public interest journalism. Only readers like you can make it possible. Will you?