Khekiye K Sema
IAS (Retd), Dimapur
It is deeply disconcerting to see the mind frame of our Naga people continuing to dwell in our little ancestral pond, glorifying our inglorious headhunting past as ‘courageous warriors’ yet without courage to confront issues that are critically destabilizing our present day reality. I sincerely believe that our younger generation have all the natural talents and capabilities to compete with the best...if only they are afforded an even playing field. The core reason for their inability to catch up with the rest of the world lies in the one crippling fact that our political status has been slumbering in a limbo for the past 75 years or so in the absence of a truly committed perceptive leadership. All the high sounding patriotic verbal diarrhoea being thrown around by the Faction leaders practically fades to a hollow rhetoric when they refuse to unite for a common cause and put themselves above the National aspiration. Each Factional leader carries his share of mega ego and can never give up their independent unimpeded power of taxation/extortion at gun point. Money is in the driving seat not nationalism. Even if God were to intervene, they will all ‘prayerfully’ refuse to unite. Therefore it is a futile exercise for the ‘Core Committee’ of the opposition-less government to waste time attempting unification of the Factions. They should instead be seriously focusing on the questionable “Competency Clauses” of NSCN (IM) if they really want to uprightly serve the interest of the people and ensure that the Nagas of Nagaland is safe when the final solution arrives. We need to consciously feel for the masses who continue to mercilessly be overburdened and being crushed under the weight of irrational, unregulated, multiple taxation/extortion by our Money Patriots (MPs) who claim to be fighting for the sovereign rights of the Nagas with an unrepentant straight face. Thus far, NSCN (IM) has arrogantly shared only half-truths showing absolute disdain and disrespect towards the stakeholders for whom they are conducting the negotiation in the first place. It’s about time that the Nagas dispassionately tackle reality as reality is.
At the very outset, consider this harsh reality very carefully and seriously that: No Prime Minister of India will ever dare be present in a Nationally/Internationally televised broadcast where the very fabrics of the Constitution of his country is slated to be ripped apart under his watch. He was however there on 3rd August 2015, confidently beaming with a clear knowledge that the ‘Framework Agreement’ was only a broad road map for finding an amicable solution to the Indo-Naga problem. He was there with a clear understanding that whatever be the final solution…it will only be concluded within the Indian Constitution. That’s it! I would presume that even NSCN (IM) understood this fact clearly too…but today it has no courage to admit this glaring reality for fear of being accused of sacrificing the aspiration of the people. NSCN (IM) ought to know without doubt by now that the people are already aware that the issue of “Sovereignty and Integration” is not going to be a part of the final solution. Period! This is the reality that we as a people must first absorb thoroughly.
It would generally be safe to conclude that the Nagas are emotionally charged people. We often tend to take critical decision that is emotionally driven, which compromises calm contemplated evaluation of the reality of a given circumstance. In the process we drown ‘reason’ and fail to see where our feet are actually planted. So this brings me to the second reality analysis that must at all cost be evaluated pragmatically and dispassionately…not emotionally! We are being exhorted and reminded that thousands upon thousands of our brothers and sisters were martyred in quest for our self-determination (National Flag). Indeed they have! There is no dispute on this score. It is because of their sacrifices that we are where we are today…gaining the right to negotiate our rightful place on planet earth. It is now up to us to make the best possible efforts with due recognition of the ground reality. We do have the option and the right to condemn ourselves by continuing our struggle for the next hundred years for our independent “National Flag” bearing all the excruciating burden of taxation/extortion along with it. It would perhaps be an easier option for the Factions to want to continue the struggle for the next hundred years knowing well that they can count on drawing blood of the masses at gun point for their individual gratification as they are doing now. However, no one in their right senses would like to opt for such a miserable existence from the harassed end of the fence. This therefore brings us to our ground reality. In the absence of “Complete Sovereignty” and “Integration” the very concept of a “Naga National Flag” looses all practical relevance and significance when viewed on a broader canvas beyond NSCN (IM)’s camouflaged “shared- sovereignty” claims. This is the area where NCSN (IM) has failed to display courage of admittance to the raw uncontaminated truth that the “shared sovereignty” would be within the Indian Constitution. Now remember that integration is also NOT going to be a part of the final solution. In recompense therefore, GoI has agreed in principle to create Autonomous Regional Territorial Council (ARTC) for Nagas of Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh to be independently funded by the GoI. This too is a reality and we are happy that our negotiating teams have been able to at least salvage this even under sever constraints. But now piece together the jigsaw puzzle and see picture that emerges. It is apparent that the much sought after “Naga National Flag” will be planted within the State of Nagaland which will ‘cease to exist’ because it will become a Naga Nation according to the “competency clause” of NSCN (IM). It’s another way of saying that the “Naga National Flag” will reinforce an emphatic declaration of the State of Nagaland becoming a homeland of all the Nagas irrespective of where they live…despite the fact that geographical integration is not going to be a part of the final deal. It clearly paints a picture of our Southern brothers of Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh enjoying their exclusive privileges in their respective Autonomous Regional Territorial Council and at the same time also gain dual rights and privileges with us within the State of Nagaland which will become a common Nation for all Nagas. I dare say that our martyred Naga comrades of Nagaland will turn in their graves if introduced to the NSCN (IM)’s philosophy that says, “Mine is mine but yours is ours”. Therefore, compromising the negotiation on account of the “Flag” is not worth the sentimental value without “Geographical Integration”.
On the other hand, the issue of “Yezahbo” is an area where we do need to give a more focused attention. It is here that our real future identity, dignity and opportunity can unequivocally be enshrined ensuring that no matter what be the majority in the House the Indian Parliament is not empowered to abrogate/amend anything therein at their whims and fancy unless we ourselves opt for amendment in it. This to my mind will be the ultimate definition of shared sovereignty even if it is within the Indian Constitution. Towards this end we’ve been told that NSCN (IM) has put in a lot of exercise consulting legal luminaries and therefore hope that all necessary parameter have comprehensively been covered. The reality here too however, is that no matter what terminology we use to qualify the “Yezahbo”, it will still be within the Indian Constitution akin to Article 371A. There is no escaping this fact. I’m inclined to think that whatever Shri. Imna Along had said in the Assembly was generally an explanation of this ground reality and reality can sometime taste bitter.
