The June 16 letter of Governor R N Ravi to Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has stirred up a lot of dust and controversy in the State at a time when everyone is focusing on fighting the SARS Cov-2 pandemic. The Governor’s letter, among others, expressed his unhappiness over “armed gangs” trampelling upon the authority of State particularly with their extortion activities while the State machinery stood mute spectator. The Governor, therefore, could not stand silently by and threatened to assume the Law and Order powers of the State under Article 371 A (1) (b) of the Constitution, a special provision in the case of Nagaland.
The Governor threatening to replace the elected and representative Government is unusual enough. But what has concerned most people even more is that it appeared as if the Governor was referring to the Naga National Political Groups (NNPGs) who were all actively under ceasefire agreements with the Government of India with the Governor himself acting as GoI’s Interlocutor. These agreements were between the GoI and the NNPGs, independent of the Government of Nagaland which was not a party to the talks. Ceasefire Ground Rules regulated the activities of both sides and they were monitored by Ceasefire Supervisory bodies, chaired by GoI representatives, usually by retired Indian Generals.
The process of consultations between the two sides were said to have been completed on all substantive issues and even October 31, 2019, was slated as the last date for signing the Naga settlement at one point. Besides, the Governor also reached out to the Naga public, particularly the tribe and community bodies as well as village elders etc. which was much appreciated by the people. The various Naga bodies have also given their views. And everyone was expecting a settlement to come about at the earliest. Has the Government of India now changed its mind/stand because if the Governor was referring to the NNPGs in his letter, this was clearly not a positive sign, coming as it does from the Interlocutor? This has been the overall anxiety of the people.
The timing of the Governor’s letter is really what has raised many eyebrows.
i) This is a time when everyone’s attention is fixated on fighting the SARS Cov-2 or Covid-19 pandemic. Fear of the pandemic is all-pervasive at the moment. Inexperienced and lacking in so many areas, the State was going through very difficult times. The Governor himself has constructively intervened to help the State and his work has been much appreciated by the people even if not in so many visible ways.
ii) India itself is fighting this public health emergency with the Covid-19 positive curve ever rising; there is an on-going humanitarian crisis in the wake of the pandemic while the economy is nose-diving. To all these has now been added a war-like situation in Ladakh and, to a lesser extent, closer home in Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh.
iii) As mentioned above, the talks to settle the Naga Political Issue may be on-going because a settlement is still to be signed but the consultation process on substantive issues is over and ceasefire agreements regulate behaviour on both sides. The general thinking is that the pandemic may be a reason for delay.
(To be concluded)
Charles Chasie