Now Delhi an ally, Imphal an adversary : From bush war to dialogue
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: October 20 2016 -

From an armed group waging a bush war against the Indian security forces to now engaged in a political dialogue with New Delhi, the NSCN (IM) has certainly come a long way and to many, especially to many Naga people, the outfit is today more of a political entity pursuing a political goal on behalf of the Nagas.

Just how representative is the NSCN (IM) of the Naga people may be open to debate for there are other armed outfits, especially the Khaplang faction of the NSCN, which have taken up arms on behalf of the Naga people.

But this is besides the point and it stands true that today the NSCN (IM) is something much more than an armed outfit and engaged with the Government of India in a political dialogue since 1997.

This is nearly twenty years and is a long period by any stretch of the imagination.

With the outfit and the Government of India inking the Framework Agreement on August 3 last year, the feel good factor which has enveloped the Naga civil societies is palpable and this seems to have given them a new lease of life, which is best exemplified by the 1st Conference of the Naga Village Authority (Custodians of ancestral land) and the Naga People of South Nagalim held at Tagaramphung (Yaikongpao) in Senapati district on October 19 this year.

Not surprisingly the Conference was organised by the United Naga Council and stuck to the earlier stand to sever all political ties with the Government of Manipur.

Five points were adopted in the Declaration arrived at after the Conference and not surprisingly the Government of Manipur continues to be dubbed a ‘communal Government’.

More than obvious that the Conference centred around the demand of integration of all Naga inhabited areas under one political entity and this is clearly reflected in its observation, ‘.. for it has become impossible to live under the present hegemonic and oppressive political system of the communal Government of Manipur.’

This is the observation of almost all the Naga civil societies of Manipur and this is more than an indication that any agreement that is inked between the NSCN (IM) and the Government of India may adversely hurt the interest of the Government of Manipur.

By extension, this may be taken to mean that such an understanding will be against the people of Manipur.

This is what is worrying. Why should an agreement between the Government of India and the NSCN (IM) on behalf of the Naga people adversely impact on Manipur ?

Only Delhi and to an extent the NSCN (IM) can answer this question.

In many ways this also points to the fact that after the NSCN (IM) inked the truce pact with Delhi, Imphal became its adversary.

Peace with one entity and hostility with another.

This is how the dice has rolled and it does not say anything good for anyone.