Naga solution ‘any time’

Nagaland’s newly-appointed Governor RN Ravi has made a very significant statement which should be carefully analysed, especially by the three neighbouring states – Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh. Ravi, a former Intelligence officer who is considered an expert on Northeast affairs, was also a deputy NSA apart from being Interlocutor to the crucial on-going peace talks between the Government of India and the NSCN(IM). While he took charge last week, Ravi, while speaking at a public reception in Kohima on Friday, said that prior to being named as the Governor of Nagaland, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had tasked him to settle the Naga political issue within three months on the principle of equality and mutual respect and all issues have been resolved. He also said that during the five years of negotiations, several landmarks were reached with the Naga groups and that was why he saw no reason why solution should be further delayed for “symbolic issues”. What he also said is that he saw no reason as to why solution should have to wait for three months, as continuation of the status quo (without solution) as it stands now, meant multiple governments with multiple taxations and fear of guns, which he said were “unbearable” for Nagas and “unacceptable” to the Government of India. On the issue of integration of Naga areas, which is a very important demand of the NSCN(IM), Governor Ravi said the negotiating parties understood the sentiments among the neighbouring states and have not opposed to it. What is most significant is that Governor Ravi has been quoted as saying the negotiating parties had conceded and accepted that it was the legitimate rights of the Naga people to pursue and achieve integration through democratic political process. He has also clearly said that the Modi government, unlike the previous regime, had adopted a “changed approach” through inclusiveness of all the Naga armed groups, Naga tribal bodies, civil societies, grassroots leaders, Naga intellectuals, senior citizens and the Naga legislators since Naga political issue belonged to all Nagas and no organization has exclusive franchise over it. What must be noted is that Governor Ravi has clearly stated that there would be no solution if political reality was disregarded and that all Nagas must welcome the most honourable and dignified solution and things that have achieved on this principle. But, even as newly-appointed Governor Ravi said so, Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has reportedly indicated that he was in favour of integration of all contiguous Naga-inhabited areas while putting the final stamp on the Naga peace settlement. Speaking at the Independence Day function in Kohima on Friday, Rio reportedly said that there was a “long-standing desire” among the Naga people for integration of the contiguous Naga-inhabited areas. Going by media reports, he also reportedly appealed to the neighbouring states to ‘recognize’ the history, yearnings and democratic rights of the Nagas. What, however, has come as a strong signal from the Nagaland Chief Minister that now was “the most opportune time” to unite and expedite the political dialogue for an early, honourable and acceptable solution. Such a statement had come from RN Ravi too, who, while interacting at a closed-door meeting with six Naga political groups civil society groups in Chumukedima in October 2017, had made it clear that a lasting and widely acceptable solution to the vexed Naga issue has to be found out without dragging on for years. Two years ago, Ravi had also indirectly called for finding the solution “before the character of the government changed with the change in leadership.” What he clearly meant was the Naga groups should come to a final agreement even when Prime Minister Narendra Modi is around.

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