Peace Interlocutor A K Mishra resumes consultation
'No trust deficit'; there is need for co-operation and patience
New Delhi
Amid much discomfort and stalled proceedings for months now, peace interlocutor and Advisor North East, A K Mishra has resumed the Naga peace parleys.
"We are back into the business....," a source said adding that a NSCN-IM delegation comprising among others Anthony Shimray and V S Atem will be interacting with the Government of India representatives on Monday or Tuesday in the national capital.
"Yes, you are right, Peace Talk is the agenda," the source merely said without elaborating on the specifics. A K Mishra and other representatives from the centre reportedly met a delegation of NNPG leaders on Saturday.
"It was a good meeting, but NNPG convener N Kitovi Zhimomi was not among them". There were some important rounds of meetings between Mishra and Naga leaders in Dimapur in April.
Meanwhile, a few top NSCN-IM leaders also met Mishra in Guwahati recently.
The Govt of India has made it clear that it is applying 'all restraints' vis-a-vis signing any peace pact as it is strictly against any "post-Solution violence".
During the April 13th meeting at Dimapur, sources said a few NNPG functionaries had made it clear that the indiscriminate delay would not be 'good' for either side or even the common people in the state.
During the Dimapur meeting, the NNPG leaders reportedly had hinted about a "growing trust deficit". However, the central government representatives repeatedly called for co-operation, co-ordination and patience.
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| NNPG leader Kitovi |
They also made it clear more than once that the Modi government is "very serious" to fulfill Naga aspirations and is working hard on those lines.
Meanwhile, sources were still not sure on what specific issues the NSCN-IM could raise on Monday's meeting. Some quarters in the central BJP are aware of the fact right from 2014 when the Modi government took charge, Prime Minister Modi has been very keen to resolve the Naga issue
But things have stopped making forward movement since 2019.
Answering questions, a source denied knowledge that the Nagaland government vide a statement from the state Parliamentary Affairs Minister K G Kenye has described the ongoing Naga peace talks at an 'Elusive stage'.
"Normally, the centre does not give much importance to what transpires between politicians and journalists in the media," the source said.
It, however, said the phrase 'Tripartite talk' is also clear. "Only when countries such as India, Russia and China meet, one can say Tripartite. Otherwise in our structure of governance the central government is supreme. Moreover, the BJP ministers are also part of the Nagaland ministry headed by CM Neiphiu Rio," the source clarified.
On July 6, a statement from state Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Mr Kenye claimed that the talks on Eastern Nagaland will be henceforth be "Tripartite" and shall include the state government for all purposes and at "every stage".
"Even otherwise, the centre has kept the state government authorities in the loop wherever necessary," the source said adding, in December 2022, the community leaders did not appear much enthusiastic about the state government delegation led by CM Rio to attend a meeting with ENPO and the Home ministry.
Only those who back "our demand for Statehood" should logically attend the meeting, community sources had said in December and the ministerial delegation had to give up the idea of attending such a meeting. The Union Home Ministry special panel on Eastern Nagaland has reportedly assured the ENPO delegation to grant the Frontier Naga Territory with adequate administrative powers.
In the meantime, it is reliably learnt that provisions of Art 371 (A) and the 6th Schedule of the Constitution are being studied minutely by the stakeholders.
Another source on the condition of anonymity insisted that the Naga peace talks are following 'guided lines' and hence cannot be said directionless.
The BJP-led Modi regime has worked and endorsed two 'guideline' pacts namely, the Framework Agreement of 2015 with the NSCN-IM and the Agreed Position of 2017 with the NNPG.
ends
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| NDPP chief Chingwang |
Is Nagaland Cabinet justified in claiming Naga talks are at Elusive stage?
New Delhi
Long back during my initial days in journalism, the then deputy prime minister Devi Lal had visited Nagaland. Among a big crowd, he was also accompanied by a Bihar minister.
Some of us were 'surprised' and led by a senior journalist, we asked the Bihar minister at Raj Bhawan, "What's your mission?".
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| Blogger and Chingwang: 2022 |
He was left shell shocked. But he said, "I was told the Nagaland government is doing a lot on land reforms and tourism". Had that Bihar minister taken some inspiration from Nagaland Ministerial delegation (that met Amit Shah on July 5, 2023), he could have easily said, 'Mission accomplished'.
This phrase in the press statement issued by Parliamentary Affairs Minister K G Kenye was one puzzling phrase for this journalist -- occasionally poking my nose into certain matters I better do not.
In November 1993 during a breakfast interview in his old Circular Road, Dimapur, residence, Chingwang Konyak, now NDPP chief, had told me, "Our job is to work as a bridge between underground or for that matter those aspiring politically and the Govt. of India". ('Nagaland Times', Nov 5, 1993)
He sounded so relevant. The Kuki and Naga clash was at its peak then. To a question on that, Chingwang denied Congress involvement either in Nagaland or in Manipur. "It is wrong to say that the Congress party is playing Kukis against Nagas. By this the party (Congress) has nothing to gain".
Chingwang also spoke about the Centre and the Manipur government -- then it was a Congress-led coalition regime in Imphal. See, how things have come full circle. In 2023, it's a BJP-led dispensation in Imphal. "....The centre should not be alleged without any basis. And in Manipur you should always remember, although we have a Congress chief minister (R K Dorendra Singh), there is a coalition government and even regional parties are party to it". (exactly the same situation but under BJP now in Manipur)
Chingwang, then Nagaland unit Congress chief, also had said, "If the Manipur government is to be blamed; the blame should go to the entire government including the regional parties".
Today, Manipur is burning and the N Biren Singh ministry has come under attack from all quarters and reasonably so. However, one should try to focus a bit what one BJP leader's report at saffron party's Guwahati meeting (on July 6) had said about Manipur.
The BJP leader said, "It took eight years of violent clashes between Nagas and Kukis in Manipur from 1993 to 2001 and later it took almost another decade to give the healing touch and bring normalcy".
The moot point is the problems in Manipur are always complex, the communities are very sensitive and issues are vulnerable to trigger violence and clashes.
Earlier, we have referred to the statement from NDPP Minister Kenye. He says, the Naga peace talks have remained 'Elusive'. Such an observation on behalf of an elected state government is little thought provoking.
The synonyms for the word 'Elusive' include - ambiguous, fleeting, illusory, incomprehensible. puzzling, slippery, subtle, tricky etc.
These words and phrases go well for journalists and media headlines. But a government run by BJP as a partner issuing such a statement sounds ridiculous. The point is the BJP-led Modi regime has worked and endorsed two 'guideline' pacts namely, the Framework Agreement of 2015 and the Agreed Position of 2017.
That means the talks are following 'guided lines' and hence cannot be said directionless or being slippery and illusory.
Does it mean the present NDPP-BJP government have some issues with the manner talks have progressed or are standing stalled now ?
Our understanding is the talks might have been stalled or even delayed but to use strong phrases after being in power in Kohima and funds coming in for so long does not make much sense.
Mr Kenye's cleverly worded statement says, "...it (Naga peace talks) must be resolved and settled at the earliest since it has been dragging on for unreasonable period of time". If you are saying so, where is the apology?
Mr Kenye is understood have issued the statement on behalf of the Nagaland cabinet and perhaps also other participants at the two day's near historic meetings in Delhi. That should include BJP MP S Phangnon Konyak and also other BJP ministers. Do they all agree that with Modi and Amit Shah around; the Naga peace talks are at 'elusive' stage?
Does it not reflect lack of 'trust' in the manner talks are being pursued by A K Mishra and other stakeholders? And if talks are at elusive stage and 'dragging' so long, what is the state government doing ? It cannot be in office just to tolerate the discomfort of power and making use of developmental funds?
When NNPG and NSCN-IM issued a joint statement on Jan 14, 2023, what the state government in office should have done?
People also have taken note that to club two day's meetings in Delhi in a single statement was a clever ploy. For a commoner, it gives an impression that Home Minister Amit Shah has 'endorsed' the entire statement.
Is it the case? More debates expected.
But amid all these, Lok Sabha MP, Tokheho Yepthomi (NDPP) seems to have understood certain games in troubled times and he skipped the July 5th meeting. Any takers?
ends
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