Will the final settlement with NSCN-IM be a betrayal to Manipur?
- Imphal Times Editorial :: August 23 2017 -

“Hypocrisy can afford to be magnificent in its promises; for never intending to go beyond promises, it cost nothing” Edmund Burke.

People across the North East Indian, particularly those in the state of Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh are having keen watch to the development of the peace talk between rebel group NSCN-IM and the Government of India.

Many felt the necessities of solving the issue on the perception that peace will be restored in the region.

It’s been nearly 2 decades that the talk is being held and after the signing of the “Framework Agreement” between the GoI and the NSCN-IM on August 3, 2016, followed by the series of meeting between the Rebel and the India Government shows that the decades long crisis between the two is nearing to find a solution.

Well and good, there is every reason to appreciate both the leadership of the NSCN-IM and that of the India Government over its effort to find a lasting solution.

What is unfortunate is the failure to publicise the content of the Framework agreement and also the recent statement of the India’s interlocutor RN Ravi, at which he stated that there is no exact time frame for signing of the final agreement.

This is a clear message to show that it is likely to take some more times, perhaps years to ink the final settlement.

In the meantime, the emergence of another group of hill base militants the UPF and the KNO, which were engaged in peace talk with the government of India and Government of Manipur.

Their demand for formation of a separate administrative unit for Hill region is no exception and is synonymous to the demand of a separate state.

The talk is going on and finding a lasting solution as per the wisdom of those advising and directly involved in dealing by engaging talk with the militants is what the Government at the centre is expecting.

Insurgency or militancy is a big hurdle for the Central government leadership as it is fast growing in building good relations with various countries across the world.

There is no doubt that India is fast growing and is becoming a supper power country.

This growing country under the leadership of Narendra Modi will surely act on things to make no room for any countries around the world for criticism.

And this is one reason for us to bring up this issue as there is apprehension that the demands put up by NSCN-IM and that of the UPF and KNO are fulfilled by not violating the promises it made to the people of Manipur before election for the preservation of the territorial integrity.

Well the administrators of the India government are no fools.

Keeping intake the Manipur’s Territorial Integrity is what they had promise and there will be no breach in the promises in granting a 6th Schedule type status to claim Naga areas as well as granting of Autonomous District Council status as par with the Bodoland Autonomous Council.

To the Manipuris, particularly the meiteis and those in the valley area and some voiceless people from the Hills (the claimed area by the militants) granting of autonomous status or granting of 6th Scheduled is no difference from segregating the erstwhile kingdom into pieces.

It is will no less than betrayal to the people of the state by those in the government.

RN Ravi might gave a shrewd statement by saying that no time frame is made for signing of the agreement with the NSCN-IM. But the fact is that it is happening soon.

If it happens, Manipur might be in fire again making the issue more complicated. We now refrain from asking the authority to reveal the contents of the frame work agreement.

But be sure to maintain the peace and harmony which has been restored in the state after your BJP led government come to the power in the state.