KOHIMA — In a significant shift in strategy, the Political Affairs Committee (PAC) on Naga political issue has resolved to initiate wide-ranging consultations with various stakeholders to seek their views on resolving the long-standing Indo-Naga problem.
Announcing this decision at a press conference in Kohima on Wednesday, government spokesperson, KG Kenye, said that the PAC will engage with civil society organisations, tribal hohos, apex Naga organisations, and other relevant groups to understand their perspectives and recommendations on the path towards a resolution.
This move comes after years of prioritising dialogue primarily with the Naga National Political Groups (NPGs), which has yielded limited progress.
Kenye, who is also the Minister for Power and Parliamentary Affairs, highlighted the inclusive nature of the PAC which encompasses all 60 state MLAs as well as members of Parliament from the state.
“We had a healthy discussion,” he said after the day-long PAC meeting, the first under the current dispensation.
Explaining the rationale behind the shift in strategy, he highlighted the persistent inability of the NPGs to present a united front, despite repeated appeals from both the government and the Naga public.
While the PAC has engaged in similar dialogues and discussions with almost every NPG, appealing them to come together as one single entity while representing the people in the talks with the Government of India, the groups have not been able to come together, see eye to eye, or set aside their differences, and continue to maintain separate identities, he said.
He also noted that the existence of multiple agreements -- the Framework Agreement and the Agreed Position -- signed with different NPGs, has created complexity. This lack of unity among the NPGs, he suggested, is a contributing factor to the protracted nature of the negotiations.
“So, with this parallel stand that they are maintaining, we thought it is detrimental to the peace negotiations they have with the Government of India. Maybe, this could be the reason for the delay in our talks also,” Kenye added.
To address this impasse, the PAC, he said, felt the need to approach the people’s organisations and gauge their views and opinions, on how to go about in trying to resolve this elusive issue.
He said the PAC members shared a common concern and agreed on the urgency of engaging with the Naga public, as their views and perspectives are paramount in determining the best path forward.
Kenye went on to state that the PAC will embark on its next move with a clear roadmap and prioritise the political issue even amidst other pressing government business, to ensure effective engagement with civil society organisations and the wider public.
The aspiration is to have only one approach and one arrangement so that the government of India can make a decision more easily, without having to deal with multiple demands from our side, he added.
When asked about the possibility of the NLA passing another resolution on the Naga political issue, Kenye said that the current focus is on concrete action rather than symbolic gestures. While the Assembly used to adopt resolutions to encourage progress in the past, at present, the NLA believes that rushing into a resolution without first engaging in extensive consultations with the public could be counterproductive and lead to serious backlash.
Since it is a pressing issue, the PAC will expedite consultations with civil society organisations, reconvene to assess the outcomes of these engagements and formulate the next steps in the peace process.
The minister said that the government of Nagaland is not directly involved in negotiations between the NPGs and the Indian government, leaving the state in a difficult position.
Furthermore, he expressed concern over the growing number of NPGs, now totalling 26, which he sees as a hindrance to the peace process. Conveying the state government and the Naga people's discomfort with the Centre’s repeated recognition of new NPGs, he said the state has requested a halt to this practice.
He reiterated the PAC’s consistent message, urging the NPGs to resolve their differences, cease the formation of new factions, and prioritise unity and collaboration, adding that a unified front is essential for meaningful progress in the peace talks.
On ENPO issue
Kenye said that the Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organisation’s (ENPO) demand for 'Frontier Nagaland Territory' operates on a different track from the broader Naga political talks and doesn't impede them.
While the ENPO has engaged in separate discussions with the Ministry of Home Affairs, he expressed hope for potential alignments between their aspirations and the eventual outcomes of the Naga peace process.
He also said that the PAC had reviewed the ENPO's ongoing dialogue with the Centre, noting a recent change in organisation’s leadership. A preliminary meeting between the new ENPO representatives and the Government of India in Guwahati was deemed introductory in nature, with no significant departures from previous discussions, he said.
While expressing optimism about closer cooperation with the new team, he highlighted the state government's clear stance that any decision by the state, regarding ENPO's proposal, requires prior consultation with the Eastern Nagaland Legislators’ Union (ENLU), as they represent the people of the region.
The state government will not make a unilateral decision, respecting the democratic process and the mandate of elected representatives, he maintained.
Further, while the state government does not undermine the importance of the ENPO as an apex body, he opined that the democratically elected representatives should not be sidelined by a civil society organisation, and the two should work in tandem to avoid potential friction and ensure the interests of all stakeholders are represented.
He said that the previous ENPO leadership had isolated themselves, hindering communication and progress. While this, among other issues, had delayed talks and meetings, the present team has come forward and visited the head of state.
Terming it as a ‘very good sign’, Kenye said that the government is approaching the issue cautiously, seeking consensus and avoiding hasty decisions that could have unintended consequences. He also urged the public for patience, noting the complexity and long-standing nature of the matter.