The Naga Saga

Five years back, the Framework Agreement was marked between the Government of India and the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isaac-Muivah) amid an extraordinary exhibition. This was done under the purview of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and General Secretary of the NSCN (I-M) Thuingaleng Muivah with R N Ravi, the interlocutor consenting to the arrangement in the interest of the Union government. It was hailed as a “notable” arrangement for introducing a period of harmony and serenity in a locale that had been shaken by brutality for almost fifty years. 

The purpose behind the flurry in chalking out a Framework Agreement and hurrying through it was the crumbling wellbeing of Isak Chishi Swu, who was under treatment in an emergency clinic in New Delhi. Tragically, Swu couldn’t go to the function of consenting to the arrangement because of medical affliction. He kicked the bucket on June 28, 2016. The peace talks were to be given the last touch for execution this year, however, things went in a new direction when the interlocutor Ravi, who additionally turns out to be the legislative leader of Nagaland, took a correspond at the NSCN(I-M) positions in June this year calling them “armed gangs” that are testing the perseverance of the state government. To add salt to the injury, he requested that all administration representatives uncover the names of their family members who are individuals from underground outfits, setting off annoyance among the Nagas. The pass on was at last cast when the lead representative in his Independence day address assaulted the state government, wherein the BJP is an accomplice, expressing that “it has the questionable differentiation of the most exceedingly awful performing state in the nation, including the North-east area, on practically all noteworthy pointers of the human turn of events”. He included that there was a commotion and an unnatural birth cycle of dreams and desires for the individuals of Nagaland, which was “terrible and unsatisfactory”. 

What has confounded the circumstance is the unobtrusive control of the Framework Agreement by the interlocutor, which had been left hidden since it was marked on August 3, 2015. In one specific section of the understanding where it is expressed, “that discourse between the Government of India and the NSCN has effectively closed and we are certain it will accommodate a suffering comprehensive new relationship of serene conjunction of two substances”, the word new has been eliminated consequently changing the significance of the arrangement itself. This has irritated the heads of NSCN(I-M). They presently don’t confide in Ravi and have requested that he be supplanted as an interlocutor. 

Then, since Muivah was at that point in New Delhi for his wellbeing related treatment, it was normal that the last understanding would be shown up at before Independence day. Be that as it may, with the relationship souring between NSCN(I-M) and the interlocutor, any further talks got outlandish. The Prime Minister’s office interceded and coordinated the Director of Intelligence Bureau, Arvind Kumar, and the Special Director, Akshay Kumar Mishra to convey the discussions further. 

For reasons most popular to the administration and the NSCN(I-M), the Framework Agreement was hidden in mystery throughout the previous five years. It was just when the altering in the understanding was seen, did the NSCN (I-M) choose to free it once again from the wardrobe and reveal to the world

The three factors that are slowing down the arrangement are the Constitution, the flag, and the combination of specific territories of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, and Manipur abutting Nagaland to shape a more prominent Nagalim. In their underlying requests, portions of Myanmar were likewise demanded to be converged with Nagalim — a difficulty. In his Independence Day address to the individuals of Nagaland on August 14 last, Muivah quickly followed the historical backdrop of Naga development and expressed that “the Framework Agreement perceives the power of Nagas”. He further expressed in unambiguous terms that “the Nagas will exist together with India sharing sovereign forces as concurred… But they won’t converge with India.” 

The flag and the constitution are significant for the last arrangement. The Nagas have their flag and constitution and it is dependent upon the administration to perceive these as they may be “the images of Naga nationhood,” as per Muivah. With the repeal of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir stripping the condition of its constitution and banner, the assignment for the Center has turned troublesome. Nagaland also appreciates the exceptional benefits like Kashmir under Article 371(A). 

The way that agents of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, and Manipur were welcome to go to the discussions fills in as a pointer to the way that the Nagalim factor also is to be examined as these states would be influenced if domains inside their limits are to converge with Nagaland. Luckily, with the NDA government at the Center and its extremity, the North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA), in the influenced Northeastern states, the Center may apply some tension on these administrations. Be that as it may, it might cause a change among the occupants of the influenced states. How this issue will be figured out should be seen. 

With these three pivotal requests of the NSCN(I-M) being so unpredictable and influencing different states, one will undoubtedly address how the Framework Agreement was drafted without accepting the influenced states. Article 370 couldn’t have been overlooked while showing up at a concurrence with NSCN(I-M). Was it thus that the arrangement was left hidden throughout the previous five years in an offered to stick around for chance so the NSCN(I-M) stalwarts could smooth down and therefore consent to the Center? Messing with the Framework Agreement has additionally convoluted the issue prompting a trust deficiency. 

Breakdown of the last understanding may prompt a return of rebellion in Nagaland as well as in the bordering states as well, as NSCN(I-M) has been assuming a lead function in keeping the revolt pot bubbling in that aspect of the nation. All other guerilla bunches admire NSCN(I-M) as an elder sibling for continuing with their accursed exercises. The Chinese also are paying special mind to occasions to hop into the fight. We need to be on our guard.

• Aarushi Prasad, Writer