Prime Minister Modi stuns Nagas, others by not touching Naga issue

Oken Jeet Sandham *

Narendra Modi at Closing Function of Manipur Sangai Festival 2014 at BOAT on Nov 30 2014 : Pix - Bullu Raj

Never before had I come across any Indian Prime Ministers not referring to the Naga political issue whenever they paid a visit to Nagaland, because for the simple fact that the Naga political issue is as old as India's Independence, besides the present state of Nagaland was born out of the "16-Point Agreement" signed in 1960 between the officials of the Government of India and the leaders of the then Naga People's Convention (NPC). There had been series of political developments since then and, even now, the Government of India and the NSCN (IM)'s truce is completing 17 years and the two have already held more than 80 rounds of talks to find settlement to the long drawn out Naga political problem.

But the new Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had stunned the Nagas and the people of the northeastern region by choosing not to touch upon the "crucial Naga peace talks" while he visited the state from November 30 to December 1, 2014. Modi's departure from the conventional referring to the Naga issue by any visiting Indian Prime Ministers in Nagaland, it appears that Naga issue is kept in the cold storage.

Thousands of Nagas at Kisama, Nagas around the world and the rest of the northeastern people were curiously waiting to hear something they generally thought of, that he would announce some kind of "time frame" for settlement of the protracted "Naga political issue," while inaugurating the Hornbill Festival on December 1, 2014. The day was also 51st Anniversary of the Nagaland Statehood which was created out of the historic political agreement, the "16-Point Agreement." The least the Nagas expected from his him was the current status of the "Indo-Naga peace process" during his two-day stay in Nagaland.

Even many memoranda including the state government's (Nagaland) and other open letters addressed to him specifically mentioned to expedite the peace process to reach "honorable settlement to the longstanding Indo-Naga political issue."

It is because of the unresolved Naga political issue, the desired level of peaceful environment is not prevailing in the region particularly in Nagaland, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Assam. It is, therefore, crucial to resolve the issue in a time-bound manner and Modi, I personally feel, has lost one of the golden opportunities to share at least his mind on the settlement of the Naga political issue. He could have asked the Naga people to be prepared rather and set the ball rolling by opening multiple dialogues amongst them and importantly, with other sections of people particularly from Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh to draw up a comprehensive contributory mechanism so that solution to the longstanding Naga political issue is arrived at. He could have even asked them to meet the respective Chief Ministers of Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh for the same objective.

I honestly believe that whatever Modi announced with regard to many schemes like Ishaan Uday; Ishaan Vikas; deciding to establish one modern apparel garment manufacturing center in every state of North-East; Rs 28,000 crore for construction of 14 new railway lines; Rs 5,000 crore for power in six North-Eastern states including Nagaland with a targeted goal of 24x7x365 power supply; Rs 5,000 crore for 2G mobile coverage; National Sports University in Manipur; setting up of 6 new Agriculture Colleges in North-East to make North-East as India's Capital of Organic Agriculture; etc. will really change the facet of the region if they are implemented as announced. All these are in the Union Budget and, otherwise, no additional economic packages for any particular state---be it for Nagaland or Manipur or Tripura or Assam---were announced.

While attending the two great functions at Imphal and later at Kisama, Kohima, Modi was deeply impressed by rich cultural heritage, amazing bio-diversity and salubrious climate where he made emphasis for the growth and promotion of tourism which would ensure economic boon for the region. I have different opinions in these areas. Yet, to turn these nature's gifts into major "tourism industries," we need a lot of expertise to overhaul the whole process and systems so that "tourism industries" can come into reality.

The current practices will not economically benefit the states particularly Nagaland and Manipur because it is just about one-week affairs in a year with meagre budgets, may be Rs 5 to 6 cores or maximum Rs 10 crore. If Modi really believes that northeastern region has the potential for tourism industries for their economic development, then the respective state governments should be asked to work out as to how sustainable year-long tourism programs can be developed. These state governments, in no way, can go for such a large scale manner unless and until the Center generously provides funds. And once proper tourism infrastructures are there and then the maintenance part in the coming years may not be that expensive.

There are many schools of thought coming up after Modi's recent visits in northeastern states. His dynamism and charisma as Prime Minister of this great country is, without doubt, admirable. I have already made several remarks on his meteoric rise as an undisputed national political leader and northeastern people, by and large, have showered their blessings, praises and happiness on his pragmatism, workaholic style of functioning and pushing the region to go on war footing developmental mode.

Unlike the past Prime Ministers, Modi does not have any penchant on granting spree of "economic packages" to any states including northeastern ones. His visit to northeastern states – Assam, Manipur, Nagaland and Tripura, is going to change the course of dream journeys many of us have been treading over the years. He has shown to the people that the governments, be it state or the Center, are for the people who are supreme in democracy and nothing else.

Strangest things took place in Nagaland prior to Prime Minister Modi's visit to the state that some concerned citizens and intellectuals had openly come out against granting any "financial packages" to the state (Nagaland). Some had even demanded the government to come out with proper financial statements of past records before such grants happening. This is one area where the Honorable Chief Minister TR Zeliang should seriously ponder over as to why such situations have been going on. There is something terribly wrong and we have to find medicine for it.