Witoubou Newmai
The relational hiatus that had prevailed for almost two decades vis-à-vis the State Governments of Assam, Nagaland and Manipur seems to have gone for now with the change of guard in Assam and Manipur.
In the past, with the Naga People’s Front (NPF) led Government in Nagaland, a member of the BJP led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), sandwiched between the two erstwhile Congress run governments, the relationship among these three States had regressed in all aspects.
Now that an atmosphere of ‘talking-terms’ has emerged, it is imperative for the Chief Ministers of Nagaland, Assam and Manipur to tap into the situation with the primary objective of ending hostilities both at the level of people-to-people and the government.
Ruckus is often kicked up on myriad issues like ‘Naga integration,’ border disputes, trade, travelers' hostility etc. in these three States. With the change of political scenario, the situation that prevails in the region favours the intervention of dialogue processes at varied levels. The three ‘friendly’ State Governments can facilitate or even go beyond the barriers to lay grounds wherein mechanisms can be evolved. If this can be the approach, all the three neighbouring States stand a huge chance of not only resolving differences but also gaining many things.
Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh’s expression of desire to meet Nagaland Chief Minister Dr. Shürhozelie Liezietsü ‘as soon as possible’ is an encouraging note. The Nagaland Chief Minister should acknowledge this gesture with open arms. Any kind of political or vested reading should not come in the way at this juncture. Rather, everyone should understand the sensitivity of the situation, and start investing efforts to nurture the emerging scenario to the advantage of reason and rationality. According to N Biren Singh, a meeting will be held soon involving the three Chief Ministers of the neighbouring States in Guwahati to discuss issues pertaining to the three States.
What the three State Governments of Assam, Manipur and Nagaland should also realize is that apart from dialogues at the government level, facilitating the civil society to engage in soul searching dialogues is imperative for feasible outcomes.
We have seen some public leaders and civil society organizations making attempts to engage in a dialogue process but in want of needed impetus, including resources, things could not go forward. Past cases are testimonies that the urge for a dialogue process was accorded no, or very limited, attention by the successive governments of the three neighbouring States.
Meanwhile, the hostile relations among these three State Governments were often further marred by stray incidents. Even if there was any ‘way forward’ initiative from any quarters, dearth of logistics often became a concern, very much reminiscent of India-Pakistan affairs. Following influence of vested leaders and outfits, and the power they hold over programmes of their respective countries, India and Pakistan often fail to revive their stalled dialogue process.
Given the background of sour dialogue processes in the home front and elsewhere, the three State Governments of Assam, Nagaland and Manipur, as well as the civil society organizations and public leaders, should be all-willing to start with a bit-by-bit approach but with constant adorning of concerns.
