Various issues continue to remain on the backburner in Nagaland and these carryovers from past years will continue to reverberate across the state even in the coming new year 2025.
The year 2024 began on a high note as the decision of the government of India to suspend the Free Movement Regime (FMR) between peoples across both sides of the Indo-Myanmar border aroused strong condemnation not only from within Nagaland but across north east where people divided by political boundary have been affected.
The government of Nagaland strongly opposed the decision but the Centre is yet to restore free movement. The suspension was taken especially in the light of the allegations in Manipur that Kuki-chin immigrants used the FMR to indulge in smuggling of weapons as well as arms and ammunition.
The other news that continue to hog the headlines was the issue of the Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation (ENPO) demand for a separate state and negotiations held over months . Due to the deadlock, ENPO decided not to participate in the Lok Sabha elections. Ultimately the ENPO decided to ‘temporarily’ accept the centre’s offer of Frontier Naga Territory (FNT).
In the 2024 Lok Sabha election, Congress candidate and party president Supongmeren Jamir defeated the ruling Progressive Democratic Alliance(PDA) candidate Dr Chumben Murry by a margin of 50,184 votes in a direct contest. The Congress won the Lok Sabha seat after a gap of 25 years. Congress had last won the Lok Sabha election in 1999.
Thereafter the regional party in power continued to hold sway till the shocking defeat handed by the Congress in the June 2024 Lok Sabha election.
The Congress win was largely attributed to the wave of anti-Christian attacks across various parts of India and the empty promises of the BJP of ensuring security of minorities including Christians in India.
In Manipur, the Congress wrested both Lok Sabha seats from Outer and Inner Manipur from the BJP and its ally the NPF. In Meghalaya the Congress won the Tura seat but lost the Shillong seat to the nascent VPP.
The feeling that Congress was on the ascent in Nagaland politics after the brilliant showing at the Lok Sabha polls was disproved in the subsequent Urban Local Bodies (ULBs)polls held in June 26. The Congress was swept away and could win only seven seats out of the 278 seats. The NDPP swept the polls winning a total of 152 seats across various Municipal and Town Councils.
The BJP also performed notably, winning 25 seats. Independent candidates made a significant impact, claiming 56 seats. Other political parties collectively secured 44 seats.
The other issue that continues to hang like a Damocles sword over Nagaland is the unabated and unauthorized and illegal taxation.
There had been series of bandhs and protests across Nagaland since 2012 especially by the Naga Council Dimapur and subsequently ACAUT Nagaland. The public resolved not to pay any tax to any faction and abide by the ‘One Government.One Tax’. However forcible collection continue.
Dimapur Chamber of Commerce and Industry(DCCI) urged the state government to take stern action but due to lack of adequate response DCCI and CNCC called for statewide shutter down strike on April 26 but was called off after government assured to take prompt action.
However subsequent acts notably the ‘death penalty’ threat on a contractor by one NPG caused a mass outrage when the Angami Youth Organisation(AYO) called for unified action against the faction. Though the issue was resolved yet similar blatant act was replayed in Dimapur when four youths were badly beaten up by cadre-members of one NPG.
This naturally led to mass outrage as various youth organisations of some tribes, joined together to fight against such menace that continue to pose threats to peace and security of society.
All the seven accused persons involved were arrested by Dimapur Police and the faction involved sacked its errant members. However the youth organisations have formed a panel to ensure that justice was delivered.
Another incident involved a facebook(now Meta) caused another uproar when the group styled as “Patriotic Nagas” went to extreme extent while trying to attack veteran Naga politician, former chief minister and governor Dr.S.C.Jamir.
The group also made condemnable and derogatory comments on the Ao women. Ao Senden has taken up the matter and later Delhi Police managed to arrest the group Admin who was later brought to Nagaland. Further course of investigation was on.
The other issue that dominates the narrative is the Nagaland Toral Liquor Prohibition(NTLP)Act which has not been successful since implementation. The state government continues to mull over partially lifting the Act as it did during the December Hornbill Festival.
Nagaland is losing several hundred crore rupees in excise netted by Assam through purchases of liquor from nearby Lahorijan and Khatkhati. Interestingly, the government of Assam had further reduced the price of IMFL from September 1,2024 . Out of around 84 liquor vendors in Karbi Anglong a little over 40 are based either at Lahorijan or Khatkhati.
This obviously is to cater to the huge demand from guzzlers from nearby Nagaland. However, the church remains determined to not allow NLTP Act to either be partially or fully lifted.
The government of Nagaland has also reiterated that the Register of Indigenous Inhabitants of Nagaland (RIIN) will be implemented and four non-Naga communities will fall under its purview while excluding others from outside Nagaland settled in the state.
The Inner Line Permit(ILP) continues to be a challenging task especially its application in Dimapur over deciding which non-Naga community should possess temporary ILP as they have been living in the state for over 60 years or their forefathers as long as over a hundred years.
The state government will have to walk the talk over RIIN and ILP leaving aside the solution which it has been acting as facilitator since 2003 but the prospect of a final settlement appears farther away despite signing of two agreements by two groups with the government of India.