The Naga Rising (TNR) said ‘Naga Accord’ could be a catalyst for peace in the Northeast. In a statement, TNR maintained that the settlement of the Naga political issue would solve many political and security worries of New Delhi, including the complexity of the demand for Frontier Nagaland bordering Myanmar and the current turmoil in Manipur that required a political alternative. With trouble brewing in the region, it was a common sense to find early resolution to the Naga issue, it insisted.
TNR said Prime Minister Narendra Modi should not undermine or be blind to the root causes of problems facing the region. If the Prime Minister thought that merely trumpeting the Act East policy and talking about development and connectivity would usher in peace and order, then TNR said he was greatly mistaken.
The forum further stated that it would be naive to think that the political leadership in Delhi was unaware of the catalytic effect that a Naga accord would bring in the Northeast, and wondered what then was stopping Delhi to resolve the Naga issue.
In addition to the ‘divide and rule’ policy of the Centre, TNR alleged that the present government was fixated with the notion of command, control and subjugation. “The rulers in Delhi with their ‘controlling and coercive behaviour’ are creating trust deficit and further alienating the region and its people.
After establishing its political presence in all the north-eastern states, in a subtle yet persistent attempt, the BJP government is putting in place well-planned policy designs to advance the Indian state’s economic, military & cultural expansionism in the Northeast as can be seen in the recently passed Forest Conservation (Amendment) Bill 2023, the ongoing ‘Meri Mati, Mera Desh’ campaign or the proposed Uniform Civil Code,” the statement mentioned.
Except for signing ceasefire agreements, suspension of operations and memorandum of understanding with varied groups in the Northeast, TNR accused Modi government of not being able to resolve any major political, ethnic and other socio-economic problems and grievances of the people of the region. It alleged that delaying solutions to the problems had only added to the conflagration that was seen today in the region.
According to TNR, the factors contributing to the fundamental problem of the region, as exemplified by the present turmoil in Manipur, had been the flawed policy of divide and rule employed by the British colonial rulers and adopted by the Indian State in the post-independence period that continued to this day.
TNR alleged that Northeast’s social faultlines were exploited by Delhi to serve its own interests, adding that it was obvious that the region was being eyed for its untapped land and resources. It pointed out that the Indian establishment was unwilling to invest in conflict resolution as the conflict situation created conditions for conflicting parties to become subservient to Delhi.
With the general elections due in early 2024, TNR asked if Modi was consolidating his power by taking advantage of the present unrest and confusion, and whether his third term was being prepared to pave the way for the establishment of a Hindu rashtra.
Pointing out that there were more questions than answers, TNR said it was time for the Nagaland government, the elected leaders, political parties, apex tribal bodies, church and civil society to be vigilant and speak out, declaring “We can no longer remain silent”.
With popular mandate and his dynamic leadership, TNR recalled that the Modi had raised high expectations that he would help resolve the complex socio-political issues of the Northeast. The party lamented that after almost a decade, he too was failing to deliver.
The party said the BJP was looked upon with much hope as it came to power, either in alliance or on its own, in all the north-eastern states. It mentioned that the Naga solution was kept on hold as the BJP wanted favourable governments in Nagaland’s neighbouring states of Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh.
The party stated that the people of Nagaland even tolerated the “election for solution” promise made by the BJP, adding that even the argument to have an experienced leader like Neiphiu Rio at the helm of affairs to usher in a solution was accepted. But it wanted to know what happened to all these public declarations and commitments.