Post May 2, Centre may adopt 'stick only' policy on Peace parleys:: NSCN (IM) urged to be 'realistic'
New Delhi: The BJP central leadership and Union Home Ministry have already got in touch with the Manipur government and state BJP leaders preparing for some kind of a peace pact with the Naga militants.
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Elections are due in Manipur by February-March 22 along with big states such as Uttar Pradesh and Punjab. Sources said Shah is keen to ensure that the states of Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh should be on board once Nagaland peace pact is inked.
In October 2019, in fact it was Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh who had approached Shah and had urged him to 'delay' the final announcement.
The NSCN (IM) with its organisational presence among Tanghkhul Naga tribe has hold in parts of Manipur and hence the Meitei leaders are often cautious about Central government's 'give it all' approaches towards the NSCN (IM).
"Amit Shah has faith in Manipur CM and thus things are being worked out accordingly," a source said.
Nagas have significant presence in Arunachal Pradesh and parts of Assam also.
The 'big picture' debate in West Bengal and a few other states is what will this summer of discontent and bitter electioneering really herald a new era. Having decided to write this blog on Nagaland and on-going 'peace talks', one is reminded of a Naga classmate in the late 1980s.
His not so innocuous question was - should we not seek progress and development in Nagaland and just keep looking backward and hope ''peace" would dawn on us one day?
Nagas: On Festive Occasion
Who would dare to answer that question with a modest 'yes' or 'no' ? It could not be answered those days nor it can be answered now.
But now that the Naga peace talks has passed off so many years since 1997 (as many as 24th year now); one wonders -- Are the deadlines set by the Government of India from time to time and phrases like 'acceptable and honourable' are just sound and fury. Or do they really signify something ?
There is talk of yet another deadline.
NNPG leadership of seven militant groups under N Kitovi Zhimomi has communicated to the PMO that the "very success" of the Naga peace pact would have a direct link to the Prime Minister's Act East Policy.
It is being circulated that once the business of elections and their results and government(s) formation are over especially in Assam and West Bengal, the Modi government would come to the board room for final peace parleys. Such deadlines have been set in the past - so many times, but every time, a solution and subsequent peace have evaded.
Now, comes the role of stakeholders in these peace talks. An objective analysis is the need of the hour as a high level of mistrust existed between two sides in the past.
Home Minister Amit Shah has been reportedly mandated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to do the final rounds of spade works. Shah has instructed Naga leaders including former Chief Minister T R Zeliang to pass on the message to NSCN (IM) that they should be "realistic" in facing the challenge.
NSCN (IM) general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah has been specially sent in a message to this effect by the Home Ministry. Shah had met state Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and Zeliang (also Leader of the Opposition) in March and asked them to carry forward the entire process.
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Both the leaders were also told that the twin contentious issues of Flag and Constitution could not be accepted or negotiated at all.
Rio and Zeliang also met a NSCN (IM) delegation; and importantly- things should move as a few months of delay would again bring in 'Manipur elections' as another delay-tactic or at least a reason for the same. The Home Ministry is also in touch with Manipur government.
The Home Ministry has also asked BJP leader and Nagaland deputy CM Y Patton to make use of his good office and 'influence' to bring all concerned on board to solve the long pending problem.
A resolution adopted at the BJP Nagaland Executive meeting on April 17 also echoed the positive sentiment about the talks process.
The resolution lauded the NDA government under PM Narendra Modi for having “a positive steps for settlement of the Indo-Naga political problems by entering into a framework agreement with the NSCN (I-M) and agreed position on resolution of Naga political issue with the NNPG (WC).”
The meeting had BJP central leadership's blessings as B L Santhosh and Nalin Kohli (BJP in-charge Nagaland) also addressed the meeting virtually.
In fact, from the Government of India point of view, it has been made clear that mushrooming of so called 'more and more Naga armed groups' is not neither appreciable nor acceptable.
Leaders such as T R Zeliang, CM Neiphiu Rio and even BJP leader Y Patton would also appreciate this refrain.
There are already 11 Naga militant groups. Seven of them operating within the state of Nagaland have come under one umbrella organisation, NNPG headed by N Kitovi Zhimomi and these groups are keen for an early solution and signing of a pact.
Blogger and Kitovi: File Snap
The Government is ready for making the peace talks broad-based by getting every key stakeholders in the eco-system. The NSCN (IM), the NNPG (of seven groups) and various organisations including Gaon Bura (GB) Federations. In discussions between Shah, Chief Minister Rio and LoP T R Zeliang - one refrain that came up is --"no group should be left out".
And perhaps more importantly, "more than asking who is right, it is high time every stakeholders should come forward to understand the gravity of the issue and lay emphasis on what is right for the Nagas".
Recently, Zeliang told a key meeting at Kohima underlining the spirit of 'discussions' he held with the Home Minister (in March) that - "We should take lessons from the past and not repeat them again".
The Naga history has been witness to several attempts for solution through accords inked in 1960 and also in the 1970s. However, the Shillong Accord signed on November 11, 1975 had triggered off fratricidal killings and creation of new groups.
Any solution to the Naga problem cannot be based on somewhat an undependable 'premise' that a single pact would cure a multitude of socio-political problems.
The solution should be inclusive. The agony of Nagas is well known; and their concerns are real.
Nothing should be done on grounds of ethnicity and tribalism. The Government of India is firm that such a tendency would only breed further inequality.
ends
Rahul Gandhi cancels Bengal rallies; BJP makes light of it
The CPI(M) and the Congress - two prominent and yet underdog political forces in West Bengal have decided to adopt high-profile massive crowd pulling campaign rallies. Next three rounds of voting are scheduled for April 22, 26 and 29.
Rahul Gandhi has cancelled his rallies in the state while CPI(M) leaders have decided to opt for campaign via radio.
The CPI(M) candidates Minaskhi Mukherjee and Srijan Bhattacharya and CPI (M) veteran and Left Front chairman Biman Bose will address Bengal voters via radio channels.
"In view of the Covid situation, I am suspending all my public rallies in West Bengal. I would advise all political leaders to think deeply about the consequences of holding large public rallies under the current circumstances," Rahul Gandhi tweeted.
It is also worth mentioning that even otherwise Rahul Gandhi did not much importance to campaigning in West Bengal. Congress is Left partner in the state along with newly floated Indian Secular Front of Abbas Siddique. Rahul has been a late comer in the campaign blitz.
BJP has downplayed such gestures by Congress or Left parties.
"The Congress has become a marginalised political force in West Bengal. So it hardly matters whether they had four rallies or two rallies or Rahul Gandhi cancelled his rallies," BJP leader Jay Prakash Mazumdar said. He further said Congress and Left parties asking BJP and Trinamool Congress to scale down their respective campaigning.
He said, "It is something like a definitely losing team asking the possible winning team to stop their practice".
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