The past few days witness another chaotic situation in both the state of Manipur and Nagaland. A Kohima based journalist while updating his Facebook page stated that –”Nagaland today is no difference from President Rule”. Civil societies here in the state of Manipur spent restless days and are now united under a single platform call COCOMI. Torch rally, sit-in-protest, mass rally, uproar in Khwairambandh Keithel is being resumed after almost 2 years. To be precise People in both Nagaland and Manipur are living with fear. The chaotic situation in both the states is the fall out of the hectic preparation for ending the 2 decades old peace talk with the NSCN-IM. As per announcement by the Interlocutor of the GoI, who is also the present governor of Nagaland, the final agreement between NSCN-IM along with 6 political groups of Nagaland will be signed to find a lasting solution.
People in Manipur are restless as they have not been informed about the contents of the agreement, and the people in Nagaland are worried as the major rebel group stand tight with their demand – separate flag and separate constitution which is next to impossible. Unofficial news about cadres leaving at both designated and undesignated camps of NSCN-IM at this crucial stage have created fear psychosis among all people of Nagaland as they fear Nagaland becoming another war zone. The presence of heavy security force in Kohima and Dimapur is illogical if the government of India agreed to all points raised by the NSCN-IM. Now, what is more disturbing is the isolation of the NSCN-IM from other political groups which are engaging in the talk when it comes to finding a lasting solution.
On the other hand people of Manipur believe in the assurance given time and again by the prime minister of India to keep the territorial boundary of the state intact. But people of Manipur fear the likely existence of a state within a state. This was assumed as per the statement of RN Ravi.
There is nothing wrong in the granting of a Pan Naga Cultural body as far as it is not incorporated with the extension of Article 371 A of the Indian Constitution. But as the government of India gives no proper explanation of what actually is the Pan Naga Cultural body, people have apprehension and thus, several form of protests – which were not even heard after the coming of BJP government in the state resumed. The point that RN Ravi stated was about granting of more autonomy.
The interlocutor RN Ravi says nothing on what exactly is the kind of autonomy that he is referring too.
When Manipur merged to the Indian Union and became a full fledged state in 1972, there is a provision – article 371 C which give absolute autonomy to not only the Nagas but to all tribal inhabiting in the state. There is a separate Hill Area Committee in the Manipur Legislative Assembly. Autonomous district Councils are existed at almost all hill district. The only thing is that some vested interested people particularly from among the tribal people, the ADCs are yet to function properly. If ADCs are hampered than people have all reason to believe that any form of autonomy will be for ruining the uneducated, poor tribal people living in the interior hilly terrain. For almost one decades some self style leaders or groups who claimed themselves to get the mandate of Naga people forcefully hampered the conduct od ADC election. It was not long ago that the ADC election was held but till today they exist more like a name shake local self government.
The panicky situation to the people of Manipur needs to be cleared. And that will be only possible if the government details on the real meaning of autonomy that Mr. RN Ravi had stated.
