More questions than answers : Questioning the secrecy
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: August 12 2015 -

More questions than answers. Speculation is rife.

Everybody, especially those with lung power seem to have an opinion or two, which may not have anything much to do with the agreement inked between the Government of India and the NSCN (IM).

The final outcome of the political negotiations between the two entities is yet to be inked but already there is an air of festivities amongst the Naga people while on the other hand there is an air of anxiety and uncertainty in the non-Naga dominated districts of Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.

Though details have not been spelt out, the Government of India has asserted that the interests of the neighbouring States of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur will not be compromised.

On the other hand someone as important as VS Atem of the NSCN (IM) has gone on record and stated that the demand for a Greater Nagaland is very much there.

It was not only The Hindustan Times which carried a report on this but also Dimapur based The Nagaland Post.

Difficult to say which way the wind will blow, but as noted here in an earlier commentary, the secrecy around the framework agreement has only cleared the way for theories to do the round and this could be dangerous.

Any agreement or pact signed between the Government of India and the NSCN (IM) cannot be seen solely through the prism of the outfit for their demands are bound to have an impact on the neighbouring States, more so in a place like Manipur, where the clout of the IM group runs large.

2001 is today more than 10 years old, but it would do good for Delhi to remember that what was witnessed here more than a decade back should not be forgotten that easily.

And keeping everything under doubts and a cloud of uncertainty can only lead to more speculations which can be harmful to everyone.

This is where prudence is called for. Tough to say when the final agreement will come about, but Prime Minister Narendra Modi seems intent on wrapping up the issue as soon as possible.

This perhaps explains the speed in which the framework agreement was inked. Moreover what are the main contents of the framework ?

Delhi may say that the neighbouring States do not have anything much to worry about but given the fact that the NSCN (IM) had earlier raised a number of demands which ran counter to the idea of a Manipur, the anxiety of the people here is understandable.

This is the reason why Chief Minister O Ibobi air dashed to Delhi shortly after the framework agreement was signed to speak his mind out for the country to hear.

It is also the same thing with the Governments of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.

In as much as it is difficult to understand why Delhi has preferred to keep the agreement under secrecy, it would have done everyone a whole lot of good if the Centre had explained why there is a need to keep it under secrecy. Prime Minister Narendra Modi should have explained why the Government thinks it better to keep the agreement under wraps.

This may not have had many takers but it could have gone some way in making the people understand why the details have not been spelt out.

The result is, no one knows why everything has been kept under wraps and what the agreement is all about.

It is also important for everyone not to jump the gun and draw conclusions on the basis of speculations.