By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter
Guwahati: After the ‘historic’ Naga peace accord was signed between the Government of India and the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah) in New Delhi on August 3, a sense of uncertainty has prevailed thereafter, especially in the northeastern states.
Though the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has termed it to be ‘historic’, in reality the people in general and the leaders of the region in particular are in utter confusion, as the details of the accord are yet to be made public.
As the prime demand of the NSCN (IM) is to have a separate ‘Greater Nagalim’, comprising areas from Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur, it’s highly suspicious on what criteria, the accord was signed, keeping the entire region in dark.
On Thursday, Congress president Sonia Gandhi said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not take the chief ministers of the north-eastern states into confidence before signing the accord.
“Nobody has even bothered to brief them, perhaps not in detail, but in a wide sense. After all, our chief ministers are directly affected, be it Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh or Assam. So, what do I take from this? From this I take that this government is arrogant,” Gandhi was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times in New Delhi on Thursday.
Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said Modi should make his stand clear that the Naga peace accord does not affect the interests of Assam.
Giving a clear signal to the PM, the Assam chief minister immediately reacted as it wouldn’t be tolerated if the interest of Assam is hurt by the accord. “To allay apprehension of the people, PM should make his stand clear that the Naga peace accord does not affect the interest of Assam. The agreement has been reached after prolonged struggle by the Naga group and it will help in restoring peace and prosperity in Nagaland. But it is astonishing why the clauses of the agreement are kept in the dark,” said Gogoi.
Even the Manipur chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh echoed the similar thought. Ibobi Singh clearly said that at any cost, his government will not accept the peace accord signed between the central government and NSCN (IM) if it alters the boundaries of Manipur.
Though the Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju tried to convince that the accord will not affect Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh, it did not go well with the people.
“We highly suspect the silence of the central government regarding the details of the accord. This is such a major development which the Prime Minister himself has declared as ‘historic’ but how can such a historic event be kept in dark,” said AGP general secretary Ramendra Narayan Kalita in Guwahati.
“All the people of the region are tensed regarding the details of the accord as it involves the interests of the other states as well. If the central government has done it with some hidden political agenda, it will be unfortunate for everybody in the region. We urge the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to make it public at the earliest,” added Kalita.
The struggle for the sovereignty has been an old one for the Naga people. But the formation of NSCN took place in 1980 after the Shillong Accord in 1975 did not yield any result for them. Thuingaleng Muivah and Isak Chishi Swu were instrumental in formation of the NSCN.
The Shillong Accord was an agreement signed between the Government of India and Naga rebels, to accept the supremacy of Constitution of India without condition, surrender their arms and renounce their demand for the secession of Nagaland from India. However, in 1988, SS Khaplang initiated the spill of the NSCN and now he heads NSCN (K) faction.
It’s noteworthy that in August 1997, the government of India and the NSCN (IM) signed a ceasefire agreement and held more than 80 rounds of talks so far.
Now, there are speculations that the NSCN (K) faction would increase their terror activity as the accord was signed keeping them aside. The Khaplang faction is still active with carrying out time to time terror acts. It recently killed 18 members of Indian Army in Manipur’s Chandel district.
In this regard, senior journalist and activist Bano Haralu said how it (the August 3 accord) can be termed ‘historic’ without knowing the details. “Though it is a welcome move we need to wait what actually this accord is all about. This is also a bit mysterious how Modi government so suddenly decided to ink the accord after remaining silent for the last 12 months since they took the charge at the Centre,” said Haralu.
She also expressed her concern at the development with Isak Chishi Swu’s health condition being extremely poor. “With Swu bed ridden, it’s a matter of concern of his involvement in the accord. He is a widely respected by the Sema Naga in Nagaland and the people are now doubtful of his involvement in the accord,” Haralu aaded.
Another influential group in Assam, Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) has also demanded that the accord details should be made public. It said that such an accord can’t be signed keeping the people in dark.
The Naga Hoho, the apex body of all Naga tribes in Nagaland is also confused at the sudden development. “We are happy and welcome the accord but we need to see its contents before making further comments,” Naga Hoho president P Chuba Ozukum said.