Nagaland Senior Citizens Association(NSCA), a voluntary organisation of elders above 60, who claim to have been “weathered by varied experiences”, have written to the prime minister of India Narendra Modi to express concern over the Naga political and other social issues.
According to the NSCA memorandum, the members wanted to “sensitively understand” the evolving political and social issues around but reiterated that they were not driven by whatever motive but only “in the fair interest of India and our people.”
Framework Agreement: NSCA said that the non-transparent nature of the Framework Agreement “remains a repugnant enigma” as it has persistently “spawned unmitigated suspicion” in the minds of original stake holding majority from Nagaland.
The Association opined that the government of India would have “noticed that Nagas of Nagaland had politely clapped their hands when the Framework Agreement was signed but did not spontaneously jump with joy in celebration like those of our Southern brothers from Manipur”.
NSCA said it was important that any “monumental decision” which was to have irreversible impact on the destiny of people must be reviewed for majority consensus by those whose lives “are directly being put on the line.” NSCA reiterated that this was a universally acceptable norm that any honourable democratic society is expected to adhere to.
Inclusive solution: Specifically pointing to the Nagaland context, NSCA said it was imperative on the part of the government of India “not to casually misread or misjudge the complex ground reality” amidst presence of multiple armed factions holding divergent views on Naga sovereignty and integration and an explosive confrontation in the aftermath of a settlement with only one single faction, claiming dominance. The Association also cautioned that “shallow mandates and endorsements being propagated through collaborated consultations with self-serving sycophant leaders and yes-men do not necessarily represent the core concerns of the down-to-earth majority”.
In the light of the above, NSCA has reaffirmed that there was no alternative to an inclusive approach of all stakeholders in pursuit of a genuine lasting peace.
NSCA also expressed concern that Nagas had never been taken into confidence when both India and Myanmar drew the international boundary. It said drawing of the boundary between the two nations caused dismemberment of Naga families and clans within the same village.
It also cited the unilateral abrogation by the government of India of the 9 Point Agreement between the Naga National Council (NNC) which envisioned transfer of all Naga ancestral lands back to Nagaland.
NSCA also pointed out that some clauses in the 16 Point Agreement were also partially abrogated unilaterally by the government of India (such as Clause 2) by transferring Nagaland from the Foreign Affairs Ministry to Home Affairs and (Clause 11) discontinuation of Consolidated funding patter.
On the issue of integration, NSCA said Clause 13 of the 16 Point Agreement remain unfulfilled.
NSCA also expressed deep concern that attempts enact the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) throughout the country could also affect Article 371A, no matter how contentious the latter might be within the state as it remains the only reliable guarantee that
Concern over UCC: NSCA said even if Article 371 (A) of the Indian Constitution may be contentious in Nagaland yet it is considered the only reliable guarantee that grudgingly provides even a bit of “confidence for Nagaland to moderate its troubled link with India under the present indefinite circumstance”.
It also cited various instances where courts had to redirect complex land disputes to the arbitrated by the tribal customary courts. NSCA cautioned that any attempt to disable Art 371A under the cloak of UCC for the Nagas, could even invite the flames of the January 10, 1926 “Simon Commission” memorandum.