Naga MLAs dissociation from 'Kuki demand' may impact fate of Naga peace talks

 Naga MLAs dissociation from 'Kuki demand' may impact fate of Naga peace talks

New Delhi

Naga legislators from Manipur have dissociated themselves from the demand of a 'separate administration' for tribals by the Kukis and other smaller Zo communities and asserted that "Naga areas should not be touched" if at all any such arrangement is made.

“We have made no demand to the Centre but in the event of any arrangement (for creating new administrative areas in line with demands by Kukis), ....Naga areas should not be touched as it will create more problems”, said Awangbow Newmai, NPF legislative party leader of Manipur assembly on Friday.

“We have made no demand to the Centre but in the event of any arrangement (for creating new administrative areas in line with demands by Kukis)...Naga areas should not be touched," he told reporters in Dimapur, Nagaland on return from Delhi after meeting Home Minister Amit Shah.

This shows the Nagas of Manipur may prefer status quo arrangement with Manipur state. Moreover, during last one month's violence between Meiteis and Kukis, there have been no untoward incident between Meiteis and Nagas.

In fact, the efforts by Kukis to enlist the support of Nagas of Manipur in their demand for a separate administration did not enthuse Nagas showing their clear preference to stick to age-old friendship with the Meiteis. 

The 10-member delegation of Naga legislators from Manipur have met Union Home Minister Amit Shah on 

Wednesday and held detailed discussions on the situation in violence-hit Manipur.

Such statements from Naga leaders have a special significance politically and could go a long way in contributing towards expediting the Naga peace talks. The Naga civil society and influential Naga Tribes Council (NTC) have been insisting for an early peace pact and did not like matters related to Manipur or Arunachal Pradesh be linked for delaying the Solution.

The NSCN-IM is not making forward movement on peace talks with the centre since 2019 but now a categorical assertion by the Naga legislators of Manipur that they would not like to be 'touched' would have its ramifications in the peace parleys. The umbrella organisation of seven Naga outfits NNPG led by N Kitovi Zhimomi is keen for an early solution pact with the Government of India.

Rebel-turned-peace crusader Kitovi 

Awangbow Newmai is also the Minister of Relief and Disaster Management of Manipur under Chief Minister N Biren Singh.

NPF MLA Awangbow Newmai said the delegation conveyed to Mr Shah their appreciation for his action in Manipur,

and also said as the elected MLAs, they were also doing their bit to convince the Kukis and Meiteis to give up

violence and try to come forward to the negotiating table.

Newmai said they do not want Naga areas to be touched as "...this has been a contention for many years".

Since May 3 Manipur has been witnessing Meitei-Kuki violence which has claimed 98 lives and left more than 300 injured. Thousands have been rendered homeless and around 9000 Kuki-Zo community people are already taking shelter in Mizoram where native Mizos share ethnic bonds with the Kuki people and others.

Newmai said, “Nagas are peace loving people and we are against any kind of war. We also don’t want our neighbours to engage in a war. As legislators, we are trying our best to bring both the communities into an understanding so that normalcy is restored in the State”.

They appreciated Home Minister Shah’s 'swift actions' to control the escalating tensions, Newmai said, also adding that the MLAs conveyed to the Union Minister their concern over how the situation had deteriorated.

The Naga MLAs met Shah on Wednesday and landed in Dimapur (instead of Manipur capital Imphal) where they met the press.

"We met Shah on Wednesday at his invitation," a NPF source said. They were also accompanied by Outer Manipur Lok Sabha MP Dr. Lorho Pfoze of the Naga People’s Front (NPF).

The 10-member group comprised 5 NPF MLAs (Ram Muivah, Khashim Vashum, Awangbow Newmai, Keishing Leishiyo, and Losii Dikho), 2 BJP MLAs (Dinganglung Ganmei and SS Olish), 2 NPP MLAs (N Kayisii and Janhemlung Panmei) and Independent MLA J Kumo Sha, local newspaper 'Nagaland Page' reported.

Legislator Losii Dikho has said that for the first time in many years, there is now a Naga MLAs forum in Manipur.

Meanwhile, the CBI has filed six FIRs and formed a special team to probe the alleged conspiracy related to the ethnic violence in Manipur.

The agency will probe into details whether there was a 'conspiracy' to foment communal tension in the sensitive state of Manipur and whether there was a coordinated effort behind the continued unrest, ethnic/communal clashes and also looting of arms and ammunition by Kuki groups from the security forces.

The state DGP has been replaced by a Tripura cadre officer Rajiv Singh and one security advisor Kuldiep Singh too has been appointed.

Analysts feel the assertion of Naga legislators of Manipur that 'they do not like to be part of any new separate tribal administration' as desired by Kukis may evoke reactions from Nagaland civil society leaders.

Many leaders including Nagaland politicians and civic body leaders in private and otherwise have been insisting that the Government of India should not delay inking a peace pact with the umbrella organisation NNPG.

The NSCN-IM which is against signing of a peace pact without a separate Constitution and Naga flag have a considerable support base among Nagas of Manipur. The powerful NSCN-IM general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah is himself a Tangkhul Naga from Manipur.

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(Nirendra Dev is a New Delhi-based journalist. He is also author of the books 'The Talking Guns: North East India', and 'Modi to Moditva: An Uncensored Truth'. Views expressed are personal)