NSCN-IM leaders retract remarks questioning S C Jamir’s right to speak on Naga issue

Two senior NSCN-IM leaders have retracted their remarks questioning former Nagaland chief minister S C Jamir's authority to speak on the Naga political issue, following a 15-day deadline issued by the apex body of the Ao Naga tribe.

NSCN-IM Deputy Ato Kilonser V S Atem and Steering Committee member R H Raising issued a joint declaration on Tuesday, saying their remarks were never intended to hurt the sentiments of the Ao Senden, the apex body of the Ao Naga tribe to which Jamir belongs.

“If our comments on September 16, 2026, on S C Jamir have hurt the sentiment of the Ao Senden, it was never meant to do so and therefore, we do retract it forthright,” the two leaders said.

The retraction came within the 15-day deadline set by the Ao Senden, which had warned that failure to withdraw the remarks would compel it to take its own course of action in the interest of the Nagas.

The Ao Senden had asserted that the Naga political issue could not be treated as the sole domain of any individual, group or faction. It had also maintained that differences that have emerged during the Naga political journey should not prevent individual Nagas from expressing their views on the issue.

The controversy followed Jamir's meeting with RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat in New Delhi on September 10, during which he sought his intervention with the Centre for an early political settlement to the Naga issue.

Days later, Atem questioned Jamir's authority to speak on the issue, while Raising said the former chief minister was not an advocate of the Naga people and had no right to speak on the Naga political issue.

The Ao Senden subsequently condemned the remarks and demanded their withdrawal within 15 days.

On Wednesday, the Ao Senden said it had honourably accepted the retraction submitted by Atem and Raising. It said the two leaders had formally withdrawn their remarks and appealed to all concerned to move forward in a spirit of unity and mutual respect.

The NSCN-IM entered into a ceasefire agreement with the Government of India in 1997 and has since been engaged in negotiations over the Naga political issue. The two sides signed the Framework Agreement in August 2015.

However, key NSCN-IM demands, including a separate Naga flag and constitution and integration of Naga-inhabited areas, remain unresolved, and a final political settlement has yet to be reached.