Has the Naga issue been mishandled? What went wrong?? ::::: When a Maoist veteran says "Armed Struggles have failed in India" .... does he imply others will be ill-advised to pursue the path of Confrontation ??

The Mizo Accord is in news albeit due to a wrong or rather a sad reason. Former Mizoram Governor Swaraj Kaushal has expired. Late Kaushal was a friend of Late rebel leader Laldenga and was also instrumental in ensuring the Mizo Peace Accord of 1986.  

We have other issues in public domain. As Vladimir Putin is on a visit to India - experts are analysing in certain details on the changing global dynamics and a special significance of an evolving RIC -- the Russia, India and China as a powerful bloc. These only underline the fact that these three countries will have to mutually cooperate in order to take on the western and the American hegemony. 

Modi and Xi Jinping : 2019 - Informal Summit 

Another important episode unfolded in recent weeks. The Modi government has decided to deal with the Naxal problem with the firm hands and eradicate it completely. Now on Dec 4th (2025) came a media interview by a senior and well known Maoist ideologue and an influential leader -- 

Mallojula Venugopal Rao alias Sonu

who has said -- "Facing losses upon losses, as the movement weakened and hopes and beliefs faded, we realised that stubbornly sticking to armed struggle… would be unwise". 

He also said:   "My assessment has proven correct. Those insisting on continuing the armed struggle will inevitably be pushed into more mistakes and losses, leading to irreparable damage.... Armed Struggles have failed in India".  

Importantly yet again he said -  "We urge them all to lay down arms, leave the underground life, and come to the vast masses, (and stop) listening to anyone who has been misguiding us for a long time, and (stop) clinging to false prestige".

Hence now; we may have to pull up sleeves and try to do some stocking especially in the context of militancy in north east. And when we talk about it --- few obvious questions come into our mind -- 

** Has the Naga issue been mishandled?

** Even in the context of other groups in states such as Assam and Manipur  -- there is a need to 'explore' --  

What went wrong??

$$ -- Perhaps the natives - sons and daughters of the soil in Nagaland, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and also Assam -- will have to ask - where did we Nagas or Assamese (and others) have gone wrong. 

Should Muivah &  NSCN-IM 'examine' issues related to human conditions and need for a lasting Peace ?

Is Naga Movement today ... entering a phase of 'misguided' horizon ? What about Practical problems ?  

Just look back and wonder -- had the Solution pact be signed in 2019 ... in circa 2025 ... Nagas, the state government in Kohima and also the Govt of India would have been discussing something else today ! Let us cross-check what does the Maoist veteran talks about 'ideologies'.  

Here is the sample -- "We failed to enrich our ideology and practice according to changing conditions. The conditions of the 1980s are no longer present in the 21st century. Even in the past 25 years, significant changes in the country’s economic system (part of the world imperialist system) have taken place." 

Importantly; the Naga militancy also coincided 'writing a new chapter' in the 1980s. 

For all practical purpose that means --- the Chinese assistance has stopped or is now confined to minimum. If that's the situation with Naxals - things could be worse for groups in north east of India.

We know for years -- innovative forms of anti-India resistance was visible from the militants including the NSCN-IM, ULFA, PLA of Meiteis and also the Naxals in the mainstream India. But where does thing stand today?

  

Paresh Baruah's cadres have been surrendering at regular intervals.

The Meitei and Kuki armed groups are in the margins.

Organisations like ULFA and NSCN-IM had in the post extended moral support and even endorsed the activities of Khalistanis and armed groups in Tamil Nadu and Jammu and Kashmir.  But in 2025 December -- Jammu and Kashmir militancy and Khalistanis are on wane or almost 'dead' issues.

This will make the Govt of India mandarins throw up the most evocative question -- Can't Thuingaleng Muivah or V S Atem see the writing on the wall ? 

The onetime Naxal hero - Mallojula Venugopal Rao says: "The Indian armed movement has reached extremely adverse conditions, all avenues to rectify it are closed, and there are no opportunities to protect its people ....

.... – if I had made this decision out of fear for my own life, I would have made it long ago. I was not afraid, why should I be afraid? 

But I thought of protecting everyone’s lives and thereby preserving the revolutionary movement." 

Hence - leaders like Muivah and because he has an able deputy Atem and Paresh Baruah should also think about 'preserving' the legacy of their movement. 

The largesse from China and other countries had in the past enriched and thus strengthened the resistance power of anti-India forces such as various militant groups in northeast and also the Maoists and Khalistanis. It was the cement that bound these forces to continue to fight a democratic set up/apparatus run from Delhi.

But in the new world order; such support and assistance will not come easy. Various groups and authorities in Myanmar are realising the folly of depending on Beijing or other external forces.

The Nagas or the Assamese - to be precise the NSCN-IM and the ULFA (I) - cannot be so casual with the shared future of the respective land and the people.

ends