Ever since the demand for creation of new states came to the fore, the political establishment in Delhi has been faced with numerous challenges from one end of the country to the other. Whether it is Telangana or Gorkhaland, just to name a few, it is going to be quite a task for the Centre to find solutions to these demands. Maybe the present UPA government or future dispensation at the Centre can study the manner in which the Atal Behari Vajpayee led NDA government was able to successfully carve out several new states out of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. Several old demands for Statehood remain while in the last five years or so, there is a new socio-political awakening taking place in the Northeast region of India with several ethnic groups now placing before Delhi the demand for greater autonomy, control over resources, claim over history and land etc. For instance the latest to demand statehood is in Assam where a tribal armed group, the Dilip Nunisa faction of the Dima Halam Daogah (DHD) is now pushing for the creation of Dimaraji state by slicing off Dima Hasao (formerly North Cachar Hills) district. This demand coincided with the laying down of arms by another rebel group after striking a ‘state-like’ deal—some 200 members of United Peoples’ Democratic Solidarity militant group surrendered formally at Diphu, headquarters of Karbi Anglong district. The outfit representing Karbi tribal people had inked an agreement entailing greater autonomy for their district. So you see even in Assam there is already demand for statehood, which obviously entail proper redrawing of territorial boundary.
Unlike in mainland India where carving out a new state will not involve more than one State, in the northeast region, the manner in which ethnic groups have been kept divided by colonial forces, makes solution over territory very complicated. And the problem in the NE region is compounded by the fact the Government of India is now attempting to buy peace with the different ethnic armed groups and in return giving out assurances right, left and centre without any proper homework. Even more complicated then Assam is the makeup of Manipur State with several fault lines now threatening to break out in the form of new demands for some degree of autonomy ranging from separate district, state within a state, alternative arrangement outside the present State, etc. In all this new state of turmoil lies the unresolved Naga political issue, which has been rightly mentioned as the longest running conflict in the South Asian region. The legitimacy of the Naga problem has been well documented right from the time of British colonialism to India’s independence and the subsequent attempts on the part of both the Government of India and the Nagas to address this problem through political dialogue is there for all to see.
Obviously the Naga issue is not a recent phenomenon but is based on the historical and political rights, which has been duly acknowledged even by Delhi. It is also a known thing to the political establishment in Delhi that the Naga peace process is not limited to present day Nagaland only. So knowing full well the genesis and also the totality of the Naga issue, the Government of India must approach the problems in the NE region with due care and sensitivity, knowing the history and not just doing things out of political expediency. It is also becoming clear that with so much to settle in the NE region i.e. catering to different needs and aspirations, redrawing of present day boundaries will become unavoidable. The big question and also concern is whether New Delhi has some form of roadmap for the NE region or is it only interested in the old game of divide and rule. Delhi must choose between foresight, peace and stability or continued violence and volatility at the cost of its own security.
Unlike in mainland India where carving out a new state will not involve more than one State, in the northeast region, the manner in which ethnic groups have been kept divided by colonial forces, makes solution over territory very complicated. And the problem in the NE region is compounded by the fact the Government of India is now attempting to buy peace with the different ethnic armed groups and in return giving out assurances right, left and centre without any proper homework. Even more complicated then Assam is the makeup of Manipur State with several fault lines now threatening to break out in the form of new demands for some degree of autonomy ranging from separate district, state within a state, alternative arrangement outside the present State, etc. In all this new state of turmoil lies the unresolved Naga political issue, which has been rightly mentioned as the longest running conflict in the South Asian region. The legitimacy of the Naga problem has been well documented right from the time of British colonialism to India’s independence and the subsequent attempts on the part of both the Government of India and the Nagas to address this problem through political dialogue is there for all to see.
Obviously the Naga issue is not a recent phenomenon but is based on the historical and political rights, which has been duly acknowledged even by Delhi. It is also a known thing to the political establishment in Delhi that the Naga peace process is not limited to present day Nagaland only. So knowing full well the genesis and also the totality of the Naga issue, the Government of India must approach the problems in the NE region with due care and sensitivity, knowing the history and not just doing things out of political expediency. It is also becoming clear that with so much to settle in the NE region i.e. catering to different needs and aspirations, redrawing of present day boundaries will become unavoidable. The big question and also concern is whether New Delhi has some form of roadmap for the NE region or is it only interested in the old game of divide and rule. Delhi must choose between foresight, peace and stability or continued violence and volatility at the cost of its own security.
