Sat Mar 22 04:42:06 UTC 2025: ## Naga Rebel Group Rejects India’s Mining Bid in Nagaland
**GUWAHATI, March 22, 2025** – The Isak-Muivah faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN-I-M), a Naga rebel group, has vehemently rejected the Indian government’s alleged attempt to explore for petroleum and other minerals in Nagaland. In a statement delivered during their 46th Naga Republic Day celebration, NSCN-I-M chairman Q. Tuccu accused the Indian government of coveting Naga natural resources, including petroleum, coal, chromite, limestone, nickel, and cobalt, without respecting the political rights of the Naga people.
Tuccu asserted that the attempt to exploit these resources in Mokokchung district represents an intrusion on Naga sovereignty and a blatant disregard for Naga history and culture. He emphasized the deep cultural connection Nagas have to their land and resources, viewing them as a legacy and source of national pride. The chairman praised the Ao Naga community for its public opposition to the mining bid.
The NSCN-I-M further accused the Indian government of employing divisive tactics to weaken the group’s negotiating position in ongoing talks regarding a Naga political solution. Tuccu alleged that the government created the Naga National Political Groups (NNPGs), a conglomerate of rival rebel factions, to counter the NSCN-I-M’s influence, specifically targeting the Framework Agreement of 2015. He stated that the government’s actions are aimed at delaying a resolution to the decades-long Naga political conflict. The statement highlights the ongoing tension between the Indian government and the NSCN-I-M over land rights and resource control in Nagaland.
First Piper 