NEW DELHI, MAY 5: Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Kiren Rijiju on Tuesday said that the NSCN (K) has nothing to do with Naga issues and is interested in extortion. In a in a written reply to Dr. Thokchom Meinya in the Lok Sabha, Rijiu said: “NSCN (K) has walked out from the dialogue process with the Government of India. NSCN (K) with its Myanmar based leadership is mainly interested in extortion & has nothing to do with Naga issues.”
He further informed the house that the “talks with NSCN (I-M) for settlement are continuing. Interlocutor has been appointed for the purpose.” He asserted that the protection of the interests of State governments of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur and Nagaland “will always be prime before any settlement is arrived at.”
Rijiju, while condemning the Changlangshu ambush, where eight security personnel were killed, had warned the perpetrators that the “security forces would react accordingly.”
“With such incidents the peace process in the region will be affected,” he said.
“NSCN is doing ceasefire abrogation which is not good. We want that peace prevails in the region and good results should come out of the peace dialogue currently on there”, he said. Earlier, Kiren Rijiju had categorically stated that militancy had no place in the Northeast and everyone should contribute for peace and prosperity of the region.
“We are trying to do whatever possible for Northeast and we need the support of the people of Northeast and state governments. Even those who are involved in underground activities should also come out and participate. After all the Northeast needs to develop like the rest of the country. We cannot be known as a place where only terrorism flourishes. We should be an area where there is peace and we want to be prosperous,” said Rijiju.
As reported by Nagaland Post– NSCN (K) abrogated the 14-year old cease-fire (CF) agreement on March 27, exactly a month before the cease-fire agreement with the Government of India expired.
Following the CF abrogation, NSCN (K) had launched series of attack against the Assam Rifles (AR) in Nagaland. Altogether nine security personnel have been killed within a span one week– one AR jawan in Kohima on April 25 and eight AR personnel including a Naga (TA) battalion jawan on May 3.
Contrary to the claims made by NSCN(K), that it was responsible for the May 3 ambush, the newly formed United National Liberation Front of West South East Asia (UNLFWSEA) in a statement through ULFA (I) publicity secretary Arunodoy Asom on Monday said that the group was responsible for the killing.
Arunodoy said that the united platform of NSCN (K), ULFA (I), KLO and NDFB had carried out the joint attack on Assam Rifles troopers at Changlangsu village in Mon district. UNLFWSEA was formed on April 17 under chairmanship of NSCN (K) chief, SS Khaplang, Arunodoy stated.
On Monday, Nagaland chief minister also met Rijiu and briefed him about the prevailing law and order situation in Nagaland following Sunday’s ambush near Changlangshu-Tobu, under Mon district. Zeliang raised the issue of Nagaland government being kept in the dark on Centre’s decision to cancel the cease-fire agreement with NSCN (K). He said that the state government was not officially informed about the decision when the same was intimated to Assam Rifles.
Zelaing had also conveyed his government’s appeal to the Central government to reconsider the decision and continue with the cease-fire. Rijiju assured that the suggestion would be taken up urgently at a meeting of the MHA and the state government would be intimated on the outcome of the meeting.