Amit Shah and A K Mishra can overshadow R N Ravi .. but they have to go for the kill ... that is FINAL SOLUTION pact on Naga issue !!

Solution to the Naga problem should be for the people.... that is for the common Nagas - the faceless ones and not for any faction or individual. 

Important parleys are on and New Delhi is getting good inputs. The 'people's version' has been received and probably the unadulterated version will reach the man who matters - that is Narendra Modi. 

The Naga peace talks commenced in 1997 and has thus come a long way. In 2019 October, the government said talks are over.  

The Modi government is under intense pressure from multiple quarters for expediting the peace talks with the Naga rebel groups and arrive at a Final Peace Pact.

The NNPG is not against signing of a peace pact at the earliest and they have counseled taking up a more pragmatic path vis-a-vis controversial issues and demands. The NSCN-IM on the other hand has been 'delaying' things with the tacit and strategic support of some Status Quo club by demanding Flag and a separate Naga Constitution.

"Emotive issues such as the flag and (Naga) constitution are mere pretext to hoodwink the Nagas. In other words, there was, and is, never a real intent to bring honourable political solutions to the Naga people," stated the umbrella organisation NNPG of Naga militant groups in December 2023.

In 2023 -- that is four years after the talks have ended; former Nagaland CM and ex-Governor Gujarat, S C Jamir in a letter to PM Modi called for taking a final call on the Naga issue "before your (PM's) second term ends -- in fact in next two months".

"As someone who joined Naga politics decades back and as someone who has seen so many ups and downs; I am assuring you, in all my sincerity, your name will be recorded in golden letters in Naga history if a peace pact is inked now (before 2024 polls)," Jamir wrote.  

veteran Jamir

But the bus was missed. By the end of 2024, the centre has started realising pretty well that the NDPP-BJP government has also not been able to deliver much in terms of convincing the NSCN-IM to agree for a Solution agreement at the earliest. 

Instead the state ministers led by CM Neiphio Rio since Sept 2024 has been demanding a new interlocutor. The NNPG leader N Kitovi Zhimomi, who is seen as the architect of Agreed Position of 201, has stated that such demands are futile. "It is like going for a prayer session after the feast is over. We Christians never do that," he said in November last year. 

His 'erstwhile colleague' Neokpao Konyak  said earlier this month - "Jani jani kena (Knowingly the talks are being delayed)". And he did not hesitate to blame NSCN-IM general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah.  

The stalemate in Naga talks have serious domestic and international implications. The government has seemingly changed its strategy of giving rope to stakeholders. Instead things are being tightened. The border sealing in early 2024 was one such step announced by Home Minister Amit Shah. 

The second step is imposition of President's Rule. Chances are that Nagas of Manipur too have raised eyebrows since then. New Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla is Shah's trusted aide. He has now given 'time' to youths and others in Manipur -- to all communities - to surrender all looted arms by Feb 27. 

That means the next course of action - the army operation looks imminent. 

Central forces such as Assam Rifles will be more than pleased about such a development. 

On the backdrop of Naga talks too such a scenario could have a salutary impact. 

The Kuki-Zomi communities are already keen for a purposeful dialogue with the government authorities both in Imphal and in Delhi. This has resulted in some pressure on Nagas of Manipur simply because they do not want to be left out if Kukis get a share of the 'developmental cake'. 

Therefore an article penned by Ngaranmi Shimray (A Tangkhul Naga) under the title - 'Belated Reaction: A Modern Disease Afflicting the Nagas' makes a lot of sense. 

This spirited voice should not be silenced. 

Shimray noted: "An adage comes to mind; "If wishes were horses, beggars would ride. 

"Reality points to the fact that J&K lost their special status of having a separate Flag and Constitution and suffered the ignominy of being downgraded from a State to UT under the current ruling party at the Centre and is begging now to get its statehood status back. 

Against this backdrop, logically speaking, the prospect of GoI conceding to the demand for a Flag and Constitution (for Nagas) would at best be remote."

Man who founded the Naga Movement 

Thus time has come for everyone right from the Home Ministry to be pragmatic.  

The gimmicks are not likely to work anymore. Hence, there is lot of expectations from what transpired between present negotiator A K Mishra and a cross section of Naga leaders - both underground and overground he interacted lately. 

Mishra will do well to understand who stands where. Several CSOs of Nagas have lost credibility. The worse part was those (one or two) who tried to influence Opposition MPs. 

This brings us to talk about a body called the Naga Hoho.  

The stance taken by the Naga Hoho lately for an early solution is to be welcomed. 

Earlier this organisation too was seen sympathising the cause of delay tactics. 

Therefore, the new move appears good; but these are early days. Hence Home Minister Shah and his trusted Advisor north east A K Mishra will still have to burn some mid-night oil. But foremost of all the right message from the ground zero ought to be communicated to the PMO. 

R N Ravi as interlocutor earlier achieved two milestones the Framework Agreement (2015) and the Agreed Position (2017). 

But history has given opportunity now to Amit Shah and his lieutenant Mishra to score more brownie points than Ravi. But they will have to go for the kill -- that is the final Solution. 

Lastly, the Solution pact should eye Naga people in general term and it need be aimed at pleasing NSCN-IM or NNPG. The developmental package and other extra rights and privileges probably ear-marked for Kukis should make Nagas of Manipur pull up their sleeves.  

On the other hand, ideally the NNPG cadres and leaders should re-unite. 

In 2023, former Nagaland Assembly Speaker, Z Lohe, had made a veiled attack on the Neiphiu Rio-led NDPP-BJP government when he said, "Those who were responsible for the removal of the Interlocutor Mr R N Ravi are indeed solely responsible for the delay of the Naga political solution".

In an article Lohe had written : "Ravi's removal (as Governor of Nagaland and interlocutor) became the greatest setback for a timely solution" to the oldest insurgency problem in the northeast.

Look no further, as they put it. 

ends