We have entered into the month of December. Importantly, this is the last month of the year 2024. Stage is set to ring in 2025 in just a few weeks time.
Therefore it is imperative for all of us to look back on how the time-span has been.
What did we achieve and what were our failures and limitations?
On the Naga issue and the peace initiatives, I often feel there is a need for repairing a relationship that got disturbed due to multiple factors in some void which neither the Naga people nor the Central government wanted. Yet what guides us all is hope.
The centre under the visionary leadership of BJP and Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi is clear about goals and plans. It wants rapid domestic growth, infrastructure improvement and abolition of poverty and hardships. In the socio-political realm, it wants a lasting peace in Nagaland and other parts of northeast.
In terms of India’s neighbour, the Modi government has made it clear repeatedly that it is prepared to stand up with neighbouring countries - from Sri Lanka to Nepal and Bangladesh.
Our Article 51 of the Constitution states that the Indian government will have to make endeavour to promote international peace and security. But these are difficult times across the globe. Closer home we have problems in Myanmar, Bangladesh and the challenges in Sri Lanka are new and of different varieties.
But the central government has been working relentlessly with neighbouring countries and global partners such as the United States. It is out experience that states often have important roles to play in building good relations with neighbouring countries. The Bihar government and the regimes in West Bengal and
Tamil Nadu has often worked together with the central government to deal with matters concerning Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
In the north east, Nagaland has never disturbed New Delhi when it came to working with various players while deciding matters related to neighbouring countries such as Myanmar, Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan. States will have important roles to play while dealing with challenges such as drug trafficking, smuggling and illegal immigration.
These may drag us to talk a bit about the Naga issue and also matters concerning Myanmar and a few other countries. Thus, we can easily underline the importance of the Naga peace talks. Things are at a critical and final stage and hence there is a need for extra vigilance.
We should not allow anything to happen that will derail the dialogue process of the last 27 years.
All stakeholders should ensure that Nagaland should not be henceforth heading towards any new rounds of unending series of meetings and consultative deliberations.
Governance is a distinctly different entity or methodology from pure politics. Therefore, my case is when it comes to Naga issue and the need for an early Solution -- the approach should be positive and of understanding and not any kind of political rivalry.
Those who think any large country in the region will come to the aid of armed groups either in Manipur, Nagaland or even Assam are utterly erroneous.
The world today recognises the power and neo-realism of the Indian government.
The world recognises PM Modi as a leader who is not interventionist. But at the same time, the last decade has seen tremendous increase in the prestige and influence of India at the global stage.
A major factor that adds credibility to what I am stating here is the fact that the Modi Govt’s policy has been to project India as a provider of security, stability and humanitarian assistance in the entire region. India’s message in 2024 is heard rather clearly in the neighbourhood. The Modi Govt is committed to three key aspects - Samvad (Dialogue) and also mutual respect and development and prosperity.
It remains to all other concerned players to take the right advantage.
The voice and goodwill of the people cannot be suppressed through gun culture.
M Chuba Ao
(The writer is BJP national vice president. Views are personal)