NSCN-IM celebrates 33rd Republic Day in Nagaland

Hebron, Mar 22 (ANI): The National Socialist Council of Nagaland - Isak Muivah (NSCN-IM), an extremist group, celebrated its 33rd Republic Day here on Thursday, as it reaffirmed its demand for 'Nagalim'.

"32 years ago on this historic day, on March 1, 1980, reaffirming the national decision and basing on our social values and culture, we in the name of the almighty god declared that our nation be a sovereign, independent, Christian, socialist democratic republic," said NSCN-IM chairman Isak Chishi Swu.

Swu further said the Naga people should work together to bring to reality the vision for a separate state.

"NSCN and Naga people must sail together against all odds and therefore all those who go against this reality are the roadblocks to Naga politics," said Swu.

He also dubbed work done by the Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR) in the last four years as modest.

NSCN was formed on January 31, 1980 by Swu, Thuingaleng Muivah and S.S. Khaplang, who opposed the Shillong Accord signed by the then Naga National Council (NNC) with the Government of India.

It has two factions the NSCN-IM and NSCN-K currently at loggerheads with each other over ideological issues and both groups are also active in neighbouring states of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. (ANI)