A tale of two states

One of the most important event in the calendar of Nagaland is the statehood day on December 1 when the second President of India, Dr.S.Radhakrishnan, 61 years ago on this day, officially inaugurated Nagaland as the 16th state of the Union of India. Nagaland state was birthed after a history of inhuman suffering and genocide committed on Nagas since the 50s across the erstwhile Naga Hills district under Assam and Tuensang Frontier Division under North East Frontier Agency (NEFA). To save people, many of who fled to the jungles for safety, educated leaders of Naga tribes got together and formed the Naga People’s Convention (NPC) to seek and an end to military operations. After three conventions, the NPC formulated the 16-Point Agreement/ Memorandum which was signed to become the framework for the new state of Nagaland. Most tragically, the NPC president Dr.Imkongliba was martyred on August 26,1961 at the hands of an assassin at Mokokchung town. Then in 1962, Parliament then gave the constitutional nod for formation of the new state ‘Nagaland’ on December 1,1963. Nagaland state continued to raise the issue of peaceful negotiations with Naga groups on various occasions including integration of Naga areas through house resolutions. Had there been no Nagaland then Nagas under Naga Hills district would still be under Assam on one side and Nagas of Tuensang Frontier Division would be under Arunachal Pradesh (erstwhile NEFA) today. Decades ago, it had been accepted even by the veteran Naga politicians that the Naga issue cannot be solved militarily by India or the NNC. The first cease fire on September 6,1964 came through efforts of the Church and support of the Nagaland government. However, negotiations remained deadlocked after nine round of talks. It is time for Nagas to honestly question themselves and their leaders –church and politicians- whether Nagaland statehood has been a boon or a bane? Nagaland statehood has benefitted all sections of Nagas without a doubt. Nagaland state continued to call for peaceful solution as it was the best way to close the chapter of conflict like in Mizoram. Since 2003 successive regional party-led elected governments have put Naga political issue as top agenda and to secure solution that was inclusive, honourable and acceptable to all sections of Nagas. This exercise has been in motion especially since 2003 where all legislators resolved, in as many ways, on playing their role as facilitator for solution through formation of legislators forum then all party forum etc. Two agreements were signed –Framework Agreement (August 3,2015) and Agreed Position (November 17,2017) with the two major groups and talks concluded on October 31,2018 as stated by then Governor R.N.Ravi both within the assembly and outside. However solution has been hanging in mid air. Nagaland legislators have taken the matter to another level when all 60 MLAs formed the oppostionless government for the second time on September 18,2021. The first was formed in May 2015. The then Mizoram Congress government under Lalthanhawla, was kept informed about the talks with MNF unlike the Nagaland state government. The Mizo Peace Accord signed in 1986 involved the Mizoram government, the government of India and the MNF. The Mizo political issue was finalised in two years whereas the Naga political issue has been negotiated for over 25 years and despite signing of two agreements, solution is still hanging in mid air.