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Feigning the Nagas that the Naga political issue would be resolved within 18 months time and having availed the political mileage out of the signing of the Framework Agreement on 3rd August, 2015 in a foreign land that the oldest political issue in India has been resolved but without sincere perusal by GoI (government of India) is more of adding mess to the peace process. Giving false hope to the Nagas that election to the Nagaland Legislative Assembly was for ‘solution’ by the then BJP Secretary-in-charge of Nagaland added another mess to the peace process. The Assam Chief Minister and the North East Democratic Alliance Convener Himanta (Biswa) Sarma who is the icon of some legislators from Nagaland, and who said “the priority of the BJP for Nagaland was to bring about permanent peace and finding out solution for the Naga problem” dated 5.2.2023 in local papers, whereas, on the contrary the social and political fragilities in Nagaland have loomed larger too has added more mess. The Union Home Minister Amit Shah assuring the Nagas that the GoI is “expeditiously bringing the Naga peace talks to a successful end” while addressing the public in his election rally at Mon as carried by local papers dated 21.2.2023 too added mess to the uncertainties in Nagaland.
Despite such disorientations, the appointments of Interlocutors by successive Union Governments were significant enough of the commitment and sincerity of the GoI to negotiate with the Nagas for the purpose of political solution.
Whereas, the columnist Nirendra Dev wrote in his regular Column in Nagaland Page dated 6.3.2023, “Sources said the Centre is keen to mount pressure on Chief Minister N. Rio to deliver on the peace front and solution to the long pending Naga imbroglio. The State Government under Rio during the last 5 years could not provide the necessary spade work to expedite the peace process and bring it to a logical conclusion, a source said.” This observation implies that the very Govt. in question has failed to practically pave way for the ultimate agreement between the negotiators. The State Govt. of Nagaland is therefore found wanted.
Despite facing seen and unseen hurdles, the negotiators managed to complete the spadework of negotiations and thus the former Governor RN Ravi announced the completion and the closure of the negotiation process by 31.10.2019 in his address to Nagaland Legislative Assembly session in January, 2020. Meanwhile, the State Government’s open league with NSCN(IM) in its campaign against the former Interlocutor and Governor RN Ravi and his ultimate removal from Interlocutorship brought the progress to an abrupt halt. Will it be wrong for one to conclude that Nagaland Govt. stands against political solution?
The State Govt. had convened several consultative meetings with tribal bodies, NGOs and other civil societies on the issue of political solution as facilitators. Yet, none of the outcomes of such Govt. sponsored meetings could be found substantive that encourages the negotiators to proceed ahead. Virtually, such Govt. sponsored meetings are found to be more of baffling both the gullible public and the GoI that as though the PDA Govt. is for solution and yet in action it only enervates. Such exercises are indeed mere rhetoric adding mess to the existing shambles.
The Independence Day speech of the State Govt. in 2024 goes, and I quote, “My Government is committed to the early solution of the Naga political issue. The continuity in the dispensation at the Centre will, I hope, prove beneficial to the early resolution.” What is weird is the State Govt. never walks the talk on Naga political issue. Why the Govt. does the double talk always? The elected Govt. has the liberty to take a political stand whether it is for or against solution? Why remain timid to spell out what it practically stands for? At this rate, the State Govt. is solely responsible for what mess we have in our land and what can be the consequences of the possible fiasco.
The Resolution No.4 of the September 12, 2024 Govt. sponsored meeting with tribal Hohos and a number of civil societies at Kohima, and I quote, “The House appealed to the GoI to elevate the ongoing dialogue and peace process to the highest political level by appointing an interlocutor of political level/Ministerial level, who has the confidence and mandate of the Government.” Unquote. Though late, it is good that the State Govt. has realised the difference of the Naga cause being handled by an interlocutor and the same being in the court of the emissary. However, I wonder whether the Govt. of Nagaland and the NSCN(IM) have ever understood the result of the removal of the Interlocutor RN Ravi that had caused tremendous harm to the Naga political status. Is State Govt. aware that to undo what RN Ravi has done for the Naga political issue would be tragic?
The resolution No.4 undermines the amount of time and energy invested by the negotiators on the principle agreements made and on the official closure done to the processes by 31.10.2019. As I read the language, it is very ambiguous. If the PDA Govt. really wants to support solution wholeheartedly, the resolution language should have been plain and simple without any ambiguity.
Indeed I hoped that a strong resolution demanding from the negotiators and particularly from the GoI to sign the agreement on the basis of the Framework Agreement of 3rd August, 2015 and the Agreed Position of WC, NNPGs of 17th November, 2017 as per the 31 October, 2019 deadline adopted in the 12th Sept., 2024 meeting. Yet, on the contrary, none of the 4 points resolution contained the demand for solution. On the whole, it is readable that the language tilts toward perpetuation of the mess of the situation in our land so as to let the coterie enjoy their paradise at the expense of the suffering mass.
Not to speak of sabotaging the Naga political solution but even delaying it has been causing immense disservice particularly to people living below poverty line, to youth, to entrepreneurs, to downtrodden and to the common man. We know the prevailing situation in Nagaland may not remain indefinite but it may have to implode one day since the built up frustration may not be contained endlessly. Should such chaotic situation occurs, Nagaland may either become the second Manipur or another Bangladesh. To prevent Nagaland from becoming such chaotic State, the sole option is to have political solution.
Z. Lohe