Revelations made by Centre’s interlocutor R. N. Ravi before a parliamentary panel is indicative of the fact that Naga Peace Accord is in the offing. Informing the lawmakers about the security scenario of North-East, Mr. Ravi hinted that Government of India is thinking about recognising the uniqueness of Naga history and some special status will be made for the Nagas.
Beyond doubt this is the most pragmatic approach taken by the Centre in search of permanent peace in Nagaland. Credit should be given to NSCN (IM) leadership too for showing enough maturity to take the ongoing peace process to such a point. As a matter of fact, both sides have now accepted the realities. It has been understood that the arms struggle will only bring more destruction. At the same time it has also been realised that painting Nagas as secessionist forces will not yield any result. To bring the Nagas closer, their uniqueness should be regarded and a special status should be given to them.
As a result of such pragmatism shown by both the parties, the ongoing peace process has been able to cross many major hurdles. There were people with vested interests who tried to derail the peace process from the very beginning. Even now they are raising hue and cry over one pretext or another. Sometimes they raise the issue of independence and sometimes they raise the issue of integration. Thanks should be given to both sides for not failing in to the trap prepared by such people.
But still there are some more miles to travel. Bringing the Nagas under one umbrella or giving the Nagas residing outside the geographical areas of the State of Nagaland is the question to be answered. Surely, resolving the issue will take some time as it is not a matter that can be settled between Government of India and the Nagas. There are other stakeholders too. To find an answer to the said question, those stakeholders should also be consulted. The stakeholders should be told in no uncertain terms that they will have to make some sacrifices for the sake of the nation.
Peace in Nagaland and as well as in the North-East is not a question of loss or gain for some individuals. Peace in the North-East is a national issue. So everyone concerned should put national interest above everything else. No one should try to fish in troubled waters.
At the same time, every North-Easterner should keep in mind that the real battle is yet to begin. The battle is to earn due recognition for the region and its people. Accepting the uniqueness of Naga society is only the first step. There are other societies in the region which are equally unique and also deserve recognition. In other words, the contributions of North-East in nation building should not be ignored. The North-East too has made sacrifices for the nation, but in return, the region and its people got nothing.
The North-East will have to fight this battle together. Keeping the people divided is just a ploy to make the region weak and fragile. It is time now to defeat these forces so that no one can dare to ignore the North-East in the future.
