Some progress appears to have been made with the Naga peace pact concluded in August. Government negotiators have had a succession of secret meetings with leaders of the NSCN (IM). Union Home Minister, Rajnath Singh has received the recommendation of a high powered tax force set up by Prime Minister, Narendra Modi calling for the army’s role in capturing counter-insurgency to be curtailed. There has, however, been criticism that the Framework Agreement has been under discussion long before it’s text had been made public. The proposed pact had been attacked by the NSCN(Khaplang) and other militant bodies in Nagaland. The government has meanwhile turned the heat on the NSCN(Khaplang) branding it’s leader, S.S Khaplang a terrorist and banning the militant body which had refused to extend the ceasefire. Delhi has also taken steps to allay misgivings in Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur about bringing Naga inhabitant areas in these states under a Naga autonomous body.
There are major problems with the NSCN(IM)’s part of the bargain. The Centre has recognised the unique history of the Nagas. The NSCN(IM) has acknowledged the ‘comprehensiveness and intricacies of the Indian system’. But NSCN(IM) leader, T. Muivah dropped a brick saying that the agreement would enable sharing of sovereign powers. Spokesperson of the Centre, however, say that the agreement speaks merely of sharing powers and asserts that sovereignty lies with the people, which is in conformity with the Indian Constitution. Until this discrepancy is removed, the agreement cannot be implemented. Muivah cannot be allowed to arm-twist the Centre and speak with a forked tongue.
