The news about a possible solution to the long drawn Indo-Naga political issue has led to all sorts of reaction coming in from every possible direction. There is nothing wrong with concerns being expressed about possible ramifications as a result of any kind of political settlement with the Nagas. The Government of India on its part would be fully aware of the kind of settlement coming and also how this is going to affect the immediate surroundings. And in fact it is this wisdom of taking onboard all section of people, especially in the States of Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, which has led the Union Home Minister to begin official consultations with the Chief Ministers of these neighboring States. The Naga people ought not to complain because they will have to realize the sensitivities involved and also respect the concern and sentiment of the others—whether Meiteis, Kukis, Ahoms, Dimasas, Arunachalees etc. What does not belong to the Nagas should not be taken from the others and vice-versa. It is now the need of the hour, more than at any other time, for the different communities in this region to have mutual respect for each other’s history and the shared concern for peaceful coexistence and a better tomorrow.
The historical-political rights and the unique situation of the Nagas have been acknowledged even by the Government of India through successive political dispensation in Delhi. And as far as the possibility of some kind of solution soon, this is not something out of the blue or remotely shocking. In fact the Indo-Naga political process dates back to the 1960s. Any outcome therefore should not be seen as hasty or unfair to the other communities. Since 1997, there have been ceasefire agreements with various Naga armed outfits. Peace talks with one of them, the Isak and Muivah led NSCN has been going on for the last fifteen years with the Government of India. And as mentioned, even before that in the 1960s, a ceasefire agreement and political dialogue had taken place under the leadership of the FGN/NNC with the then Government of India, most notably under Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. And so the Naga political process and the issues therein, these are well known both within India and beyond. It is not a sudden development neither is it some kind of recent invention.
Recently, the Kuki Inpi Manipur has urged Delhi to exercise great caution pointing out that any settlement reached with the NSCN (IM) may affect the interest of other tribal communities, who are “equally or more deserving” of such an “alternative arrangement” and added that accommodation of a particular section could result in denial of justice to the larger society. While this column acknowledges the concern of the non-Nagas, however what is a bit strange is that the apex Kuki body in a memorandum submitted to the Prime Minister stated that “any alternative arrangement for the Nagas of Manipur before any political solution for the Kukis of Manipur will not be acceptable under any circumstances”. Also it states that “there has to be a top level official dialogue and agreement between the Kukis and the Government of India for a justified/deserved and superior political solution for the Kukis of Manipur”. Kukis have every right to take up their issue with the Government of India. They must, like the Nagas have done, invest in the hard earned peace process and the dialogue. Political strategy, patience, consistency and pragmatism are required for any process to succeed.
When the then PM Atal Behari Vajpayee came to Kohima in the year 2003, Nagas were perhaps a little disappointed when he said that “political consensus was needed” for integration and redrawing of boundary. The Nagas did not protest or throw a tantrum but only listened and tried to understand what the PM had said. At that time Vajpayee commented that the Naga peace process had made a beginning and that it should continue and will succeed. As recently as only on December 11, 2012, the Government of India has reaffirmed the same line of thinking that new states can only be formed if there is “broad consensus”. This obviously applies not just to the demand for Naga integration but for all other demands for new States out of existing ones. To the credit of both Delhi and the Nagas, they have stayed the course and invested time and effort for peaceful resolution of their issues. Others must learn from this experience.
