Ukhrul, August 29: The Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF) on Thursday accused the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) of attempting to disrupt the commemoration of Jadonang Martyrs’ Day and of trying to distort the legacy of the Zeliangrong people’s political struggle.
In a statement, ZUF said the NSCN-IM sought to use the 94th anniversary observance of Haipou Jadonang’s martyrdom to promote its own agenda under the guise of honoring him as a Naga freedom fighter. The group alleged that the effort was a calculated attempt “to divert and confuse the public” and weaken the distinct Zeliangrong political movement.
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ZUF leaders condemned what they described as a deliberate bid to “dilute the genuine historical and political ideal of Haipou Jadonang,” warning that such moves were intended to garner wider public support for the NSCN-IM at the expense of Zeliangrong aspirations.
The front cautioned the public against “distorting elements” that could sabotage what it called the collective political future of the Zeliangrong people. It also accused the NSCN-IM of persistently undermining ZUF’s ongoing dialogue with the Government of India.
“The Zeliangrong United Front and its people shall continue to fight till the last, to achieve the long-cherished political aspiration of the Zeliangrong people,” the statement said, vowing to resist any force “with an iron hand.”
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Haipou Jadonang, revered as a spiritual leader and nationalist figure, was executed by the British in 1931. His death anniversary has long been a rallying point for the Zeliangrong community, whose political aspirations remain contested within the broader Naga movement.