Chidambaram stepped beyond his brief
By: Gopal Talukdar
Article published on 2/9/2009 1:47:08 AM IST	Font Size:
The visit of home minister on February 3, 2009 to Manipur and Nagaland to review the law and order situation in two states while availing a first hand assessment of state of affairs was a commendable act. However, when he stated “any solution to Naga political problem would have to be found within the (Indian) Constitution”, he surely had stepped beyond his brief. The HM seems to have forgotten that the three salient conditions of the peace talks between the GoI and the NSCN (I-M) were that the talks would be held: a. without pre-conditions, b. at the prime minister’s level and c. in a third country. As the talks progressed the NSCN (I-M) leadership has voluntary returned to India to negotiate peace on several occasions (toning down condition ‘c’ in a third country) and held talks with the prime Minister’s representative, the Labour Minister of State Oscar Fernandez and the interlocutor Padmanabiah (toning down condition ‘b’ at the Prime Minister’s level). This positive repose and flexibility shown by the Collective leadership helped generate a lot of hope mutual trust and good will. Senior NSCN (I-M) leaders accompanying the Collective Leadership too took pains to defend the GoI’s position stating that India was sincere in their efforts to bring lasting solution to the Nagas. Unfortunately, however, in all the 12 years of ceasefire and after nearly 60 rounds of talks the singular response from India has been the continuous attempt for the abrogation of condition (‘a’ without pre-conditions) while the much flaunted talks seem yet to see the light of day. In fact, in the last 5/6 years, all that we know is that Oscar Fernandez belted out three songs from his mouth organ or harmonica and Padmanabiah kept his bungalow, his car and 50 grand per month. Aside from the continuous attempts to twist and turn the terms of agreement and indulging in delay tactics, little had emerged from the side of GoI. The home minister also appears to have missed that the peace talks held to find permanent political solution to the protracted Naga problem, is not a UPA agenda but a policy and programme of the Government of India whish enjoys wide support cutting across the ruling and opposition party lines in both houses of parliament. The salient conditions of the talks were accepted and put in place for more than 10 years through two coalition governments of NDA and the UPA at the Centre. In such a backdrop, to pass sweeping comments at the fag-end of the parliamentary term of office only bring into disrepute the ethical integrity of the Nation’s polity in the eyes of the outside world. The tough talking indulged by the Home Minister was welcome relief after a long time. However, when he stated, “the infighting between Naga groups has been a matter of anguish for the Home Minister”-one is reminded of the story of the person who killed both his parents but pleaded for leniency from the judge at His trial since he was an orphan. The agencies of Home Minister, the RAW, IB, MI, SIB etc. have only added to the burden of Naga people with every faction accusing the other of unholy nexus with these organizations. It would serve the Home Minister well to remember that the fragile and elusive peace was brought about by his peers through the better part of the sixty odd years. In fact, almost all Prime Ministers of independent India have contributed to bring the peace process to its current shape. Since the salient conditions of the peace process had been very clearly spelt out and since the HM has no privy to the peace process negotiations his utterances, “any solution to the Naga political problem would have found within the (Indian) constitution” has to be considered a breach of protocol by the Home Minister and infringing on the prerogative of his leader, the Prime Minister of India. Many had laid down offices for lesser sins than this. The suave HM was though to be much more tactful and diplomatic than what transpired during his recent visit to Nagaland and Manipur. The process is now very much under the glare of the international watchdog and the media. It has attracted international attention because the peace exercise had seen as a serious attempt by the GoI to find a peaceful political solution to end a bloody conflict that has lasted for more than half a century. Maybe a conflict ridden world could learn a lesson or two again from the lad of Gandhi. As the biggest democracy in the world, the Government of India is expected to be much more sincere and solemn in their approach to and handling of peace process.
	Font Size: