Shedding Light - Who failed FNR ? Or is it FNR which failed ?

Nirendra Dev *

In Nagaland, the Status quo club seems again in action.The intellectual philosopher 'business' of metaphysics continues to rule the roost.Critics in Delhi take a jaundiced view and say = the Moral of the lesson is New Delhi is being fooled !

Journalism is most often about giving "voice" to those who otherwise would not have one. When it comes to the need for Peace in Nagaland and for that matter in areas dominated by Nagas in states such as Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Manipur - there is no absence or shortage of such voice(s).

But what is often 'not said' is the crucial and significant part of the tale that's missed out - often deliberately, often by design and often out of fear.

The fear mongers had a field day and they used 'emotion' to justify merciless killings in the 1990s. As a result 'peace workers' also became a profession and some of them soon became part of the Status Quo club.

In Delhi, they are middlemen. In Mumbai, they are stock brokers. In jest, they do not want Solution but they are part of those Solution seekers who trust them.

The good old game has two words - being smart and occasionally called 'betrayal' to the real cause. Over-smartness is also a disease. This catches people who feel everyone else around is an idiot.

Convened by the Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR), the Naga Political Groups, Tribal Hohos met on April 22, 2025 at Chumukedima in Nagaland and said the participants “resolved to continue strengthening the Council of Naga Cooperation and Relationship (CNCR) and agreed to work together by respecting each other based on the Historical and Political Rights of the Nagas".

If it's for an essay competition - the writer should get first prize. Olympic hosts can give gold medals and New Delhi's Mandarins class inspired by jugadu-culture of Congress era can even give away a few Padma awards.

But if the question is about forward movement for Solution --- the response is typically metaphysical andalso a big No !

Within hours the meeting was held in Nagaland; Lutyen's city got alerted. A few Sarkari mandarins made a few phone calls. A few others were summoned by bosses. Some internal channels from Kohima, Guwahati and Kolkata also reportedly got into action. And one refrain was -- "it is all about beating around and finding a bush where there is none".

The Status quo club seems again in action. We will try to break these metaphysical attempts in simpler terms for mortals as well as for the sake of posterity.

Firstly, we must always understand basic teachings of life -- History and 'bad leadership' must also work as a guide to another set of blunders. Let us understand these better in terms of 'money' --- a subject that is easily most palatable under the all-party opposition-less dispensation.

Every individual, pensioner, youth and business people and even extortionists will be affected if there is a major failure in the banking system. Some of these meets are like banking systems. But there are smartly orchestrated double games .... the beating about the bush !

On Jan 14, 2023 --- under the aegis of FNR a 'joint statement' by the NSCN-IM and the NNPG was a landmark development. It was no mean feat that chairman of NSCN-IM Q Tuccu and also NNPG convener N Kitovi Zhimomi had inked the statement and endorsed both the Framework Agreement of 2015 and the Agreed Position of 2017.

However, within hours the poll schedules for return of NDPP-BJP regime were announced on Jan 18, things practically reached a naught. On Jan 18 (2023) evening came a statement from the NSCN-IM top leadership which negated the joint statement and also disapproved the Agreed Position inked in 2017.

"The Nagas do not acknowledge any agreements signed under the Indian Constitution," the new statement from the NSCN-IM said.

The meta-physical intellectual organisation remained silent and later almost forgot that there was a date in the calendar - Jan 14 (2023). Why? The media's question can be easily hijacked by some central agencies.

Again this year (2025) - also Jan 14th - a trick was played. Metaphysics was punctuated with "history" ..... and hence every 'unwarranted' dates were recalled -- 1929, 1947, 1951. The intent --- again -- beat around the bush and keep the Status quo club happy.

New Delhi is already able to read between the lines. And who knows - soon the Enforcement Directorate (ED) will get into action to get hold of funds-channels of peace-workers either they are metaphysical or otherwise !!

One political source in Delhi has put his boys into action. His diktat was without ambiguity -- the hidden killer of Peace and Solution will be hidden no longer. So the next question -- what can save the day and also the fate of Peace talks:

Someone should answer -- why FNR resolution on April 22, 2025 seeks Solution only on the basis of historical and political rights of the Nagas. Why has it "Failed" to match even the 2023 Jan 14th resolution ? Is all that deliberate ?

The pressure seems still dominant .... from Status quo club both in Kohima and in Manipur and hence reference to 'common platform and common draft' clearly avoided. Moreover; there was no mention of Framework Agreement and also the Agreed Position. Is someone forced to run .... and is readily running away from Jan 14th, 2023 resolution ?

The fact that stress was given lately on a 'common draft' is being left out yet again in a metaphysical style. The FNR, if it is sincere, should have urged the Naga underground groups to sit with New Delhi and jointly work out the "competencies" rather than display metaphysical wisdom and beat around and try to find a bush.

Mr Cool in the Home Ministry is cool as long as he wants to be cool. Silence is sometimes not golden especially..... before any big or the so-called Litmus test.