Flag, Constitution and now a 'handshake'

 

New Delhi/Kohima 

The meeting between the NNPG delegation and Governor La Ganesan on Friday threw up perhaps one of the touching moments of contemporary settings seeking to drive home the point that agreement and mutual care and sharing can really end all confrontation. 

Governor and Blogger: April 12, 2023

At the fag end of the meeting, sources said, the Governor wanted to know from the delegation leaders the NNPG stance on Flag and separate Naga Constitution. On this NNPG convener N Kitovi Zhimomi responded in negative and said, "We do not believe in promising illusive things. If NNPG knows its own strengths, it also understands the limitations of all sides. We want to be practical in dealing with the core issue of Naga political problem which is pending and has been afflicted with violence for the last so many years".

'Nagaland Page'

"Nagas want peace and clamour for economic prosperity," he remarked.

At this, Governor Ganesan reportedly took Kitovi's hands and pulled them for a "grand handshake". 

Analysts feel any breakthrough in Naga peace parleys between Government of India and two principal 

stakeholders NSCN-IM and NNPGs at this juncture will be a game-changer development in the context 

of overall situation in north east especially in the wake of violence in Manipur.

The NNPG is an umbrella organisation of seven militant outfits and they came forward for 

peace parleys with the Government of India in 2017 when R N Ravi was Nagaland Governor and 

also the chief negotiator for talks.

Incidentally Ravi is now Governor of Tamil Nadu and Mr Ganesan hails from that southern state.

The peace parleys have been completed by October 2019, according to the Government of India.

And even Governor R N Ravi had made a reference to that effect in his address to

the state assembly. 

Notably,  the NSCN-IM and the umbrella group NNPG issued a joint statement on Jan 14, 2023

stating that two sides pledged - "unconditional commitment to collaborate on the basis of our

respective agreements (Framework Agreement of 2015 and the Agreed Position of 2017)

for the resolution of the Naga historical and political rights with Govt of India".

In fact, this was for the first time, the NSCN-IM had shown its approval to the Agreed Position inked

between Govt of India and NNPG in 2017 when R N Ravi was the Governor of Nagaland.

In the meeting lasting for about two hours between the Governor and NNPG delegation, both sides 

exchanged views frankly.

The Governor appreciated the candid observations from the "horses' mouth", a source said.

NNPGs co-convenor Isak Sumi later told reporters that since it was their first time meeting with

Governor Mr Ganesan, they apprised him of the 'ground realities' and urged him to request the

Central government on the urgency to announce a Solution and subsequent implementation of the agreement

that had already been placed.

According to sources at the meeting, NNPG convener, Kitovi Zhimomi also tried to impress upon the Governor

to appreciate that "full-fledged implementation" of the Article 371 (A) has not yet happened even after

so many years when statehood was granted in 1963.

"Why keep something pending...Our Status Paper as agreed with the Government of India has taken care of

all critical issues including on various provisions of Art 371 (A)," he reportedly told the Governor.

With regard to both the peace talks and also on matters related to ENPO demand, apparently only the Monsoon

session of parliament by July-August is left for the Narendra Modi government to work on legislative matters.

It goes without stating that by the winter session of parliament the entire focus could shift to the 

general elections of 2024.

The Naga peace talks had commenced in 1997 during the tenure of I K Gujral as the Prime Minister. Prior to that Gujral's predecessor H D Deve Gowda had met NSCN-IM leaders Thuingaleng Muivah and Late Isak Chishi

Swu in Zurich putting the peace process on a formal track.

Other Naga underground groups came in later in February 2001 only during the tenure of Atal Bihari

Vajpayee as the Prime Minister.

Last month interacting with this journalist at Raj Bhavan at Kohima, Governor had said,

"Naga people have shown utmost faith in democracy and have voted overwhelmingly during Feb 27 elections. 

In many other educated states people's participation is not much. Maybe only 60 to 65 percent people vote...but here 

in Nagaland the voters turn out was around 84 percent. In some constituencies the turnout was even 90 to 

94 percent. That means people want development and solution to all their problems through ballots and 

not arms". 

ends