We in the BJP firmly believe that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the best Indian Prime Minister who will deliver a long lasting Peace and Solution on the long pending Naga issue.
Even veteran S C Jamir has stated earlier that our Prime Minister Shri Modi is the most decisive leader the country has seen in many decades.
We ought to talk about some players who have been generally forgotten in the context of their roles in making the Naga peace talks a reality. Former Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao’s name comes foremost. He was a Congressman and the Congress party should take credit for his contribution to the process of talks.
Rao had met Late Isak Chishi Swu and Thuingaleng Muivah in Paris in July 1995. Rao was the first Prime Minister who allowed ‘unconditional talks’ and it was his groundwork that later helped.
Rao’s successors H D Deve Gowda and I K Gujral should also be given their credit. But there were some lapses too.
In 2022 it was reported in the media that when the Vajpayee government was in power, senior officials used to often say that one demerit of the 1997 Naga ceasefire was that it “lacked clear definition”. There were no written terms and conditions and it was merely based on an understanding. And worse before announcing the ceasefire as the Prime Minister Late I K Gujral ji never even met NSCN-IM leaders.
But in the entire process – we all – the state of Nagaland, the citizens of Nagaland, other stakeholders – everyone played a role in creating a mega challenge called Extortion. It has hit everyone and the menace has jeopardised the Naga economy badly.
Therefore, I often wonder should we now start working for a ‘new freedom’ from Extortion menace. How many of us are actually ready to fight the system?
My purpose here is to suggest that let us be practical. The Nagas of Nagaland state have suffered the most after the ceasefire was imposed. Dimapur was haven-like township once with all the virtues of a commercial hub.
Today the investors have deserted it and those few have remained and either planning to go or have diverted attention towards neighbouring places in Assam.
The ceasefire that came into being benefited our Naga brethrens outside Nagaland state – be it in Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur. We are happy about that. But the issue here is that for a Solution and Peace and only these two factors can influence Development of all Nagas – including those of us in the state of Nagaland.
Therefore my case is for an early Solution.
The year 2025 may turn important and eventful in positive sense if we play our roles positively. Let us all pledge to work for an early Solution. While I say this; I also want other Nagas – either in Haflong areas of Assam or in Arunachal Pradesh ... they also should contribute to ensure that the Solution is signed at the earliest.
Things are moving positively as we can see the manner things are unfolding in Manipur despite the ethnic tension between Kukis and Meiteis. Of the north eastern states which have sizable Naga population other than our state of Nagaland is the state of Manipur. The Meitei leaders and for that matter even Naga Chief Minister of Manipur (Late Rishang Keishing) would always swear by ‘territorial unity’ of Manipur state.
This often created complexities and hardly anyone around who can resolve this. For Manipur state, the extension of ceasefire as was proposed in 2000 to Manipur was a ‘de facto division’ of the land. The Imphal valley burnt. For the Nagas honestly speaking ‘Nagaland’ is also often interpreted as Nagalim. Others call it ‘Greater Nagaland’. These words and phrases generate angry outbursts in Manipur. But in the changing dynamics of 2025, everyone else also has to be practical.
The Nagas of Manipur will also have to help expedite the cause of Peace and Solution. The Nagas of Manipur often take a stance that they can be ‘brothers’ of Meiteis. They also may benefit if more developmental funds are given from Imphal for the Naga region in the state.
Hence, I appeal that they should also pray and help bring Solution and the much needed developments for Nagas of Nagaland state.
(M Chuba Ao is BJP national Vice President. Views expressed are personal)
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