Against the backdrop of the Assam Peace Accord signed on December 29 between the pro-talk ULF led by Arabinda Rajkhowa and the government of India led by union home minister Amit Shah and Assam led by chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and as the year 2023 draws to a close, demand for early solution to the Naga political issue has gained further ground.
According to reports, the Assam Peace Accord has been on the anvil since 2009 when ULFA leaders such as Rajkhowa and Anoop Chetia were deported after arrest from Bangladesh.
The fruition of talks which were initiated in 2012 gained momentum in October after a draft proposal was sent to pro-talks ULFA leadership.
In Nagaland such an eventuality has been kept on the backburner despite negotiations culminating in the signing of agreements- Framework Agreement with NSCN (I-M) on August 3,2015 and with Working Committee of NNPGs on November 17, 2017; solution turned out to be a mirage.
The state government has also been acting as ‘facilitator’ for solution but the events taking place despite the familiar tone on call for ‘peace and unity’ for solution to the Naga political issue has been to no avail.
Since the beginning of 2023, there were vociferous demands from NGBF, CNTC, Naga Hoho, Naga Council and CSOs on the government of India to effect early solution as assured in October 2019 by then government of India’s Interlocutor for Naga political talks R.N. Ravi.
Ravi as Nagaland Governor had also stated this while addressing the 13th Nagaland Legislative Assembly on its first day on February 12,2021.
Another development that rekindled renewed hopes was the joint declaration issued by top leaders of the NSCN(I-M) and Naga National Political Groups (NNPGs) for an unconditional commitment to work for solution. This was readily and widely welcomed by NDPP, NSF and leaders of several CSOs.
However, the hopes that unity between the two major stakeholders would hasten solution was dashed when the NSCN (I-M) rejected the January 14 joint statement signed by its own chairman Q. Tuccu and convenor of WC/NNPGs N. Kitovi Zhimomi on January 18.
Solution of the issue in Nagaland is a sincere and much hoped desire which has been on the agenda even since 1963 when Nagaland was made the 16th state under the Union of India.
Also, after years of conflict in the state between the apex tribe bodies and women activists over the issue of 33% women reservation, the matter has been finally resolved after the state government, in heeding to the Supreme Court directive, amended the Nagaland Municipal Act 2023. This has paved way for election to take place and the state government has decided to hold ULB polls by April 2024 with 33% women reservation. Nagaland also earned another mention when retired chief secretary Banuo Z. Jamir IAS (retd) the first woman chief secretary of the state was also appointed as the first woman Lok Ayukta of the state on January 18.
As Nagaland prepared to go to the polls on February 27,2023 various political parties and CSOs demanded that solution to the Naga political issue precede election. The pressure from various CSOs was on the BJP which, during the previous 2018 assembly election, promised solution if voted to power.
In this regard, the 14 apex tribal hohos of Nagaland (now encompassing 15 tribes) that include Angami, Ao, Chakhesang, Chang, Khiamniungan, Konyak, Lotha, Phom, Pochury, Rengma, Sangtam, Sumi, Tikhir, Yimkhiung and Zeliang tribe- have also demanded early solution and possibly before the February 2023 polls.
However, the election went ahead without any concrete assurance on the timeline for solution as the alliance of NDPP led by chief minister Neiphiu Rio and the BJP won majority of 37 seats in the 60-member house in the February 2023 assembly election.
The 2023 election was also interesting as the once powerful regional party the NPF could win only two seats, the same number as the hitherto unknown parties such as Lok Jan Shakti Party (Ram Vilas) and Republic Party of India (Athawale) while the JDU won 1 and independents four seats.
The NCP won seven and NPP won five seats respectively. All the elected members including their political parties extended support to the Neiphiu Rio-led NDPP-BJP alliance.
After leading his NDPP-BJP alliance to it second win, Neiphiu Rio became the longest serving chief minister with five consecutive elections since 2003.
In addition to the unresolved Naga political issue, the demand for a separate Frontier Nagaland state by the Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation (ENPO) which has been a long standing one, is also another crucial subject in Nagaland.
ENPO leaders have been holding series of talks with central officials and currently with government of India’s political representative A.K. Mishra over the demand.
ENPO’s demand, if granted will mean that the erstwhile Tuensang and Mon districts which have been further bifurcated into a total of six districts will mean slicing away 32% of the area from Nagaland.
Another crucial issue is oil and gas exploration in Nagaland for which the state government had in principle agreed for a joint exploration with Assam along the disputed border area between the two.
With time running out, the state government has yet to take a positive and concrete call on the framework for oil and gas exploration before venturing into extraction and production.
On the health front, the state’s first medical college – Nagaland Institute of Medical Science and Research at Phriebagie, Kohima, was inaugurated on October 14, 2023 by Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya.
On the socio-economic front, unabated and unauthorised and illegal taxation on business and trade especially in Dimapur has seriously threatened any prospect of growth. There are nearly 20 political groups, scores of unions and syndicates and dozens of government agencies pouncing on every form of trade and business operations.
The situation is worsening and demand for urgent solution of the Naga political issue has only revealed a clear link with illegal taxations. Dimapur faces grim economic prospects due to unabated taxation and syndication of the market so much so that many businesses are either flocking to Khatkhati or Bokajan in Karbi Anglong to to Chümoukedima district where public have reiterated that public will only pay on the strength of ‘One Government One Tax.’
This has made prices of various items in Dimapur expensive. For instance, a bag of cement in Khatkhati is around Rs. 470 while it is Rs. 510 in Dimapur and Rs. 505 in Chümoukedima
Even price of items in Mokokchung is less than that in Dimapur all of which expose the lack of enforcement of market pricing in Dimapur as public continue to groan.
On connectivity, Nagaland’s first and only airport at Dimapur has reached a dead end as it is fast losing ability to expand unless authorities decided on an alternative site available at Chümoukedima.
Even the railway station at Dimapur is headed towards becoming redundant due to lack of space brought about by unauthorised occupation.
All these need a clear understanding of economic infrastructure from the state government otherwise the economic future looks bleak.