Nagas of Manipur opposing Metei ST status is a key development' ::: Time to sync in with today’s realities

'Nagas of Manipur opposing Metei ST Status is a key development'

New Delhi 

In these columns one has always made a strong pitch for Solution. It has also been underlined that the ancestral legacy of ethnic and historical roots often leave us confused and with little elbow room to be pragmatic.

Some frank remarks have left the incumbent NDPP-BJP regime anguished.

Nevertheless, now look at Manipur where Meiteis are demanding Scheduled Tribe status. The crux of the debate in the context of Nagaland state is that the same demand is now being vehemently opposed by Nagas and Kukis. 

The efforts of the All Tribal Students Union of Manipur (ATSUM) is being supported by different tribal bodies including the Naga Students Union Chandel, Sadar Hills Tribal Union on Land and Forests, Tangkhul Katamnao Saklong and Tribal Churches Leaders Forum. There is a need for "taking appropriate measures" to collectively protect the tribal interests, says ATSUM.

This development is a testimony of 'victory' of some of my arguments made from time to time. Whether

Meiteis get their demand fulfilled could be debated some other day; but as of now and 'a pragmatic' standpoint

is that the Nagas of Manipur state are at crossroads. They should have been more involved and engaged with

the demand and issues vis-a-vis 'Nagalim' and ideally left the issues of Quota to Meiteis and the state of

Manipur.

But as we often realise the reality is different. They can ill afford to ignore what can hit them immediately. Analysts in Delhi do not miss these episodes and as expected are taking a closer view of things.  "We will not be surprised if the Naga Students bodies and other organisations from Nagaland state also join the issue directly and indirectly," says a source keeping a close watch on things unfolding.

It is also my case that in circa 2023, the internet and social media will ensure that the blackout of

any event/stories by the so-called mainstream media either in Delhi or in Kohima/Dimapur and Guwahati

or Shillong is practically meaningless. People will be keeping an eye and will not remain satisfied

with merely that exercise.

Things would be shared and if any issue has the potency things will go viral. Even the opinion

of individuals. Our news stories and articles these days are read and analysed more on 10 times

more on social media and whatsapp groups than on print.  

Here comes some responsibilities for stakeholders who are concerned about their communities

and near and dear ones.

There is always a division between hardliners and pragmatists. This would explain the broken promises in more ways than. There are chances of the communalists and hardliners having the edge, and  social media could be abused. Hence there is need to ensure that such ultraconservatives cannot be given that 'edge'. If India is passing through testing times on these fronts; at the regional levels, the north east India too ought to be cautious.

The political leaders in the past have encouraged and also got away with their good old communalism

and tribalism games. In Meghalaya, the seeds of tribal-non tribal differences were sown permanently. In the 1990s

a Speaker of the state assembly was 'blamed' for inciting violence and later he was made a Governor!

Now there is a deep realisation that things should have been handled better.

In Nagaland, the differences are many and hence things are coming in various forms.

The need for an early political solution has to be understood yet again urgently. The Netas and other

stakeholders have played their games. The Government of India too has to realise the price of delay that

is the 'importance of urgency' on this front. The candid outbursts of NNPG leaders during meeting with 

A K Mishra and Mandeep Singh Tuli actually drove home a point.

Things should not be left entirely to the bureaucrats and politicians. The tribal bodies must have cherished their 'power' when the ULB related law was withdrawn by a freshly elected state government. This came in essentially because such 'repeal' act did not threaten the NDPP-BJP dispensation and honourable G-60.

So the question is if ULB law could be repealed under pressure; can the same 'pressure' not work when it comes to pushing for an early signing of a final peace pact. If there was some miscalculation; it's time things are corrected now.

The 'opposition' to the Meitei Quota by people in Manipur is a great pointer. 
The stakeholders and the Modi government will need to call the bluff of those who do not want Solution. It is time to show compassion, wisdom and courage to make the years-old Naga issue a symbol of rapprochement rather than confrontation.

The post-October 2019 experience in peace talks and events like shunting out of R N Ravi only expose the limits of engagement without a clear strategy.

ends   

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