In Khaplang’s death, Delhi sees opportunity to wean away Nagas
Delhi sees in Naga rebel leader Shangwang Shangyung Khaplang’s death an opportunity for Indians in his banned outfit to return to the mainstream.
The 77-year-old Khaplang, chairman of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang (NSCN-K), died Friday evening at the outfit’s base in Myanmar’s Sagaing Division.
“Khaplang was the heart and soul of NSCN-K, which will face a lot of difficulties without him. The NSCN-K has members from both India and Myanmar. The Myanmar nationals are not our concern, but we will appeal to the Indian NSCN-K rebels to return to the mainstream,” Union minister of state for home, Kiren Rijiju said here on Saturday.
The minister said if the Indian Naga rebels of NSCN-K give up arms and abjure violence, they will be rehabilitated. “The NSCN-K is a banned illegal Myanmar-based organisation. The outfit abrogated the ceasefire unilaterally in 2015. Nagaland, eastern Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur faced a lot of problems, as did Assam because of its activities,” Rijiju said.
The ‘banned’ tag on NSCN-K, however, did not prevent Nagaland CM Shurhozelie Liezietsu from mourning Khaplang’s death “on behalf of the government and people of Nagaland”.
The Isak-Muivah faction of National Socialist Council of Nagaland has “forgiven SS Khaplang for all the political mistakes and crimes he had committed, however, grave they may be”. “Based on the declaration made by our former chairman late Isak Chishi Swu on forgiveness and reconciliation, we have forgiven Khaplang,” NSCN-IM general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah said on Saturday.