Nagaland Governor La Ganesan expands consultation process, meets NNPG leaders

Expanding his consultation process and what is being described as an attempt to ‘hear from the horses’ mouth’, Nagaland Governor La Ganesan met a high-powered delegation of leaders from Naga National Political Groups (NNPGs).

The NNPG working committee delegation was led by its convener N Kitovi Zhimomi, sources said.

In the meeting lasting for about two hours, both sides exchanged views on the long pending peace talks.

NNPG co-convenor Isak Sumi later told reporters that since it was their first time meeting with Governor La Ganesan, they apprised him of the ‘ground realities’ and urged him to request the Central Government on the urgency to announce a Solution and subsequent implementation of the agreement that had already been placed.

According to sources at the meeting, NNPG convener Kitovi Zhimomi tried to impress upon the Governor to appreciate that “full-fledged implementation” of Article 371 (A) has not yet happened even after so many years since statehood was granted in 1963.

“Why keep something pending…Our Status Paper as agreed with the Government of India has taken care of all critical issues including on various provisions of Art 371 (A),” he reportedly told the Governor.

At the fag end of the meeting, sources said, the Governor wanted to know NNPG’s stance on the flag and separate Naga Constitution. On this, Kitovi responded negatively, saying, “We do not believe in promising illusive things. If NNPG knows its own strengths, it also understands the limitations of all sides. We want to be practical in dealing with the core issue of Naga political problem, which is pending and has been afflicted with violence for the last so many years”.

At this, Governor La Ganesan reportedly took Kitovi Zhimomi’s hands for a “grand handshake”. It was perhaps one of the touching moments of the deliberations that took place on May 12.

Analysts feel any breakthrough in Naga peace parleys and announcement of the Solution pact and dates between the Government of India and two principal stakeholders, NSCN-IM and NNPGs, will be a game-changer development in the context of the overall situation in North East, especially in the wake of violence in Manipur.

The NNPG is an umbrella organisation of seven militant outfits, and they came forward for peace parleys with the Government of India in 2017 when R N Ravi was Nagaland’s Governor and the chief negotiator for talks.

According to the Government of India, the peace parleys have been completed by October 2019. And even Governor R N Ravi had made a reference to that effect in his address to the State assembly. However, no progress has been made since then, and issues of flag and a separate Naga Constitution were raised by NSCN-IM.

Notably, the NSCN-IM and the umbrella group NNPG issued a joint statement on January 14, 2023, stating that the two sides pledged – “unconditional commitment to collaborate on the basis of our respective agreements (Framework Agreement of 2015 and the Agreed Position of 2017) for the resolution of the Naga historical and political rights with Govt of India”.

In fact, this was for the first time the NSCN-IM had shown its approval to the Agreed Position inked between the Government of India and NNPG in 2017 when R N Ravi was the Governor of Nagaland.

It may be mentioned that BJP National vice president M Chuba Ao in a newspaper article in January this year, also referred to the ‘transfer’ of R N Ravi as the Governor of Tamil Nadu and maintained that “At times even unreasonable demands have been entertained (by the centre)” only to ensure that the peace parleys remained on track.

In 1986, the resignation of Mizoram Chief Minister Lalthanhawla had ensured the inking of the Mizo Accord. But in Nagaland, for years now, at various levels, the leaders and experts have argued that the Naga issue should not be seen with the ‘Mizoram prism’.

Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, who has been heading the NDPP-BJP regime since 2018, has also been asked to focus on keeping a good legacy vis-a-vis Solution to the long pending Naga issue.

For people in different quarters, time seems to be running out. The delay has already triggered the Eastern Nagaland issue, and now the stage is set for an autonomous territory splitting the small State.

With regard to both the peace talks and also on matters related to ENPO demand, apparently, only the Monsoon session of parliament by July-August is left for the Narendra Modi Government to work on legislative matters. It goes without stating that by the winter session of parliament, entire focus could shift to the general elections of 2024.

The Naga peace talks commenced in 1997 during the tenure of I K Gujral as the Prime Minister. Prior to that, Gujral’s predecessor H D Deve Gowda, had met NSCN-IM leaders Thuingaleng Muivah and Late Isak Chishi Swu in Zurich, putting the peace process on a formal track.

Other Naga underground groups came in later in February 2001, only during the tenure of Atal Bihari Vajpayee as the Prime Minister.

The peace talks, which reached its climax with the signing of an agreement in October 2019, have been delayed after the NSCN-IM raised the issues of a Naga Flag and a separate Constitution for Nagas. The twin demands have been rejected by the centre more than once.

On these, Kitovi Zhimomi told ‘Organiser’ last month in the outskirts of Dimapur that: “The demands for flag and Constitution are also dear to the NNPG. But we have to be realistic. The Indian Constitution does not allow such compromises by New Delhi ….So, no double standards. Thus, I say Flag and Constitution have no relevance for economic prosperity. We have to call spade a spade. We have to stop bluffing our own people”.

A former RSS ‘pracharak’ La Ganesan took over as the Governor in February this year and has been travelling to remote areas and also met influential social groups like Gaon Burrah (Village elders’) Federation and the Nagaland Tribes Council (NTC).