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By S.C. Jamir
Former CM and Governor
The people of Nagaland had been witnessing for the last more than 20 years with utmost curiosity the outcome of the political talks between the Government of India and the Naga underground organisations. But at no point of time neither the underground nor the state government have thought of consulting the people of Nagaland on the political issues that were being discussed with the government of India. But after a lapse of more than one decade after the signing of two political agreements between the Government of India and the underground groups, suddenly the leadership of the state had convened the consultative meeting by inviting all tribal bodies and civil societies without any set agenda. Somehow, some resolutions were adopted duly signed by the Chief Minister and others. On the basis of the body of the resolution, let us carefully examine as to whether the said resolution conforms to the present status of the political agreements or not.
History is a living witness to the decades of stormy and perilous Naga political voyage, during which the Nagas have lived a life of monumental struggle and sacrifices for the cause dear to their hearts. The untold pains and miseries have unknown to and unattended by the outside world. Yet the gaping wounds and the deepest scars are still crying for justice and peace. The sixties saw a new generation holding the reins of Naga political movement with a vow to carry on the movement in the footsteps of the older generation. However, time is changing and new socio political imperatives are emerging, although Naga movement tries to remain relevant deliberately ignoring the contemporary realities. But after more than 20 years of protracted negotiations with the representatives of the Government of India, all the stakeholders decided to hammer out an honourable political framework. Taking all the circumstances including Naga history, tradition, culture, policies and economics as well as the Constitution of India, in a holistic manner, a political arrangement known as the Framework Agreement was drawn up and signed on 3rd August 2015 between the NSCN (IM) and the Government of India in the presence of the Prime Minister, Home Minister and National Security Advisor. Similar agreement known as Agreed Position was also signed between the Naga National Political Groups (NNPG) a conglomerate of multiple Naga armed groups and the Government of India on 17.11.2017. The significant feature of these two agreements is that the question of complete sovereignty and integration do not figure in the said agreements. These two agreements changed the character of Naga polity, hence this achievement can be treated as the watershed in the tumultuous and boisterous Naga political odyssey.
In view of this political realities resulting in a paradigm shift in the Naga political odyssey, the GOI needs to call the signatories and ink the finality of the problem. In the mean time led by the elected government of Nagaland, all tribal organisations should press both the GOI and the Naga underground to implement whatever had been mutually signed without any further delay. Let the people of Nagaland be rescued from the present nightmarish situation and let them live in peace as any citizen of the country. It will be ridiculous to talk about appointment of a new Interlocutor.