The Niki Sumi-led NSCN-K faction has taken strong exception to the statement of Director General of Assam Rifles (DGAR) Lt General Pradeep Chandran Nair.
Quoting a newspaper report, the group said Lt Gen Nair, in a recent interview to the Week magazine, said the Myanmar-based NSCN-K led by Yung Aung has now weakened after Niki Sumi surrendered with his people.
Expressing shock at his statement, the NSCN/GPRN, in a release, on Thursday demanded that the DGAR clarify why he had used the word ‘surrender’ which is completely false and misleading.
“How could a man of his calibre and stature who holds the highest position use such a misguiding statement when he is aware that the Government of India and the NSCN/GPRN officially revived the ceasefire on September 8, 2021,” the release asked.
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Strongly condemning the ‘malafide’ and ‘unscrupulous’ statement of the DGAR, the NSCN/GPRN asked him to withdraw it.
It also said he will be held solely responsible for any unpleasant consequences arising out of his baseless statement.
The release also asked Lt. Gen Nair to prove if there is any document or agreement on which the NSCN/GPRN had signed or agreed for surrender.
It said the Government of India and the ministry of home affairs must take note of the contradicting statement made by a high-ranking military official.
“Does the NSCN/GPRN have to sign a separate ceasefire agreement with the Indian security forces,” it further asked.
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The group accused Lt. Gen Nair of intentionally trying to cause chaos, confusion and misunderstanding among the people and said no government in the world would ever sign a ceasefire with a surrendered group.
The release said the Government of India is well aware of how and why the NSCN/GPRN came to revive the ceasefire.
It added that it is the universal truth that the NSCN/GPRN, heeding the call and desire of the people for peace, had come out to join the peace process with the Centre and restore the ceasefire agreement that it had abrogated in 2015 and subsequently revived it on September 8, 2021 in the larger interest of peace in the land.
“At no point of time, the NSCN/GPRN had surrendered itself from fighting for the cause of Naga people’s rights and shall not even in the days to come,” the release added.