In a statement issued on June 27, National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM) stated, “NSCN is the recognised and legitimate national organisation of the Naga people and not a gang”, reports East Mojo on June 28. This statement comes in response to Nagaland Governor and interlocutor for Naga peace talks RN Ravi's letter to the Chief Minister of Nagaland where he recently highlighted about ‘rampant extortions and violence by the armed gangs’ in the state. NSCN-IM further stated it is the inherent right of any sovereign people and nation to collect taxes from the people and commercial establishments and that “taxes have been the sources of sustenance that has brought the Naga political movement this far”. The organisation further condemned the Governor for tarnishing the legitimacy of the group’s endeavor to collect taxes from the people as extortion and complicating the “23 years long Indo-Naga political talks”.