Being Naga by Blood Does Not Mean a Person is Indigenous to Nagaland: Former CM SC Jamir

Dimapur, October 28, 2019:

Former Nagaland Chief Minister Senayangba Chubatoshi Jamir, a signatory of the 16-Point Agreement that brought about the creation of Nagaland in 1963, has said that being a Naga by blood does not mean a person is indigenous to Nagaland.

While speaking during the launch of the Nagaland Indigenous People’s Forum in Dimapur on Sunday, former Chief Minister Senayangba Chubatoshi Jamir said that being a Naga by blood does not mean a person is 'indigenous' to Nagaland.

He said that similar is the case with the non-Naga Kacharis, one of 16 recognised tribes in the State, he said.

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Jamir said that a Naga from Manipur, Assam or Arunachal Pradesh can be called  'indigenous' in his own State but not to Nagaland. The former Chief Minister also raised eyebrows by claiming that Nagas of Manipur cannot claim that they are indigenous of Nagaland by virtue of being Nagas.

He also advised Nagas not to consider their problems with emotions and sentiments but “study present conditions” while arriving at a definition of indigenous inhabitants.

It may be mentioned here that the Nagaland Government had decided on June 29 to prepare the Register of Indigenous Inhabitants of Nagaland (RIIN).

However, it was later put on hold as it was felt that there was the need of “consultations and deliberations with participation from all sections and stakeholders”.

It may be mentioned here that the RIIN was staunchly opposed by the NSCN (IM) who alleged that it would divide the Nagas spread across the Northeastern region of India. The NSCN (IM), meanwhile, is holding talks with the Government to settle the seven decades old Naga dispute.

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