NSCN-IM rejects Constitution, upsets PM Narendra Modi's peace plan

GUWAHATI: Weeks after Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked Nagaland governor and interlocutor RN Ravi to wrap up the Naga peace talks by November, the NSCN (I-M) on Wednesday announced its rejection of the Indian Constitution and the "merger of Nagas with the Union of India."
The NSCN(I-M), with whom the Centre has been holding negotiations since 1997, took the extreme step following differences with Ravi over the involvement seven other Naga rebel groups in the peace process. It, however, did not specify whether it has rejected the Framework Agreement it signed with the Centre in the presence of the Prime Minister in 2015.
In a statement sent to TOI, the largest Naga rebel outfit said, "The talk is between the Government of India (GoI) and the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN) as two entities. And literally speaking, the question of stakeholders does not arise." It added, "The Centre is talking with NSCN (IM) because NSCN (IM) represents the issue of the Nagas that covers all Nagas and their territories."
The NSCN(I-M) said, "The Nagas will not merge into the Union of India, but they will co-exist with the Union of India as two entities.
‘Nagas, Indians to share sovereign powers’
Nagas are a recognized entity. Nagas do not accept Indian constitution, but Nagas and Indians will share sovereign powers based on competencies.” At the same time, it admitted the fact that “the Nagas and the Indians are inseparably inter related in many fields.”
Going back to the Framework Agreement, which Ravi had signed on behalf of the Centre, the statement said, “No one should doubt that Framework Agreement is the meeting point for the Nagas and the Indians.” The Framework Agreement is the basis for the final solution to the Naga question.
On August 14, 1947, Naga National Council (NNC) chief AZ Phizo had declared “independence” for the Nagas. Since then, Naga-inhabited areas have been in turmoil. With the same same objective in mind, NSCN (IM), which broke away from the NNC in 1980, has been relentlessly carrying out its movement.
The statement said, “In recognition of the hard realities, Mr Narasimha Rao, the then Prime Minister of India stated, “You (NSCN) represent the people; the issue is with you and you have proved yourselves.” It added, “When our Ato Kilonser (prime minister) Mr. Th. Muivah told him to talk with the others also,” he said, “Why should I talk with them? The issue is not with them. They are in my hand.” The NSCN(I-M) further said, “Opportunists, deserters, opponents and detractors, who have never fought for the cause, have now started claiming their shares when solution is around….Where were they when NSCN entered into a cease-fire agreement with the GoI? Where were they when NSCN cadres moved from village to village covering four corners of Nagalim for reaching the people on all issues?”. It added, “On what basis are they claiming to be stakeholders in the peace process?”