Issue of ‘sovereignty' must be handled carefully
The National Democratic Alliance Government must be extremely sensitive while handling the issue of ‘sovereignty' by that time it finalises the peace deal with the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah) NSCN (IM). Though the framework agreement was signed by the centre's interlocutor RN Ravi with the NSCN leader Thuingaleng Muivah August last year in presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, yet, the provisions of the historic pact has not been made public since then. However, the general secretary of the NSCN (IM), Muivah recently aired his views on sovereignty, saying that his outfit has not “given up on sovereignty”.
This may cause widespread tension across the States of the North-Eastern region, particularly in Assam, Manipur and in Arunachal Pradesh. Since the beginning, the Naga outfit has been demanding a ‘Greater Nagalim' comprising contiguous Naga-inhabited areas across Assam, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and in Myanmar as well.
The highlighting of the demand for sovereignty in a rare interview since the signing of the agreement with the Modi Government and perhaps first after the death of the NSCN (IM)'s chairman Isak Chishi Swu last month, obviously bears a special political significance both for the organisation and for the entire North-Eastern region. He stated that the understanding on shared sovereignty has been arrived with the Government because the uniqueness of the Naga history is recognised. It is expected that the NSCN (IM) leadership will cautiously proceed while inking the final settlement with the Union Government without disturbing the territorial integrity of the North-East. Further, a plausible solution can always be worked out while pitching for the safeguard of the prime interests of the Naga community at large.
Unlike the previous Governments at the Centre, the Modi Government has sent positive vibes to the Naga leadership which Muivah admits time and again. Therefore, the NSCN (IM) which largely represents the warring Naga outfits may fully take the advantage of the positive mood of the Centre and lock the deal without any delay instead of harping on sensitive issues like ‘sovereignty'. It is true that the Nagas were forcefully annexed to then undivided Assam by the British in 1881.
The Naga Club which was formed in 1918 had shown the first sign of resistance by telling the Simon Commission in 1929 ‘to leave us alone to determine for ourselves as in ancient times'. Again, the Naga National Council, which was established in 1946, surprisingly declared independence for the Nagas on August 14, 1947, one day before India became independent. Therefore, courting and convincing the Nagas for accepting a solution within the Indian Constitution could be an insurmountable task for the Modi Government.