Final pact sans NSCN (IM) ?: Belies human logic

It doesn’t make sense. If, as reported in certain sections of the media, the Centre goes ahead and signs the final pact with the seven groups which together make up the Naga National Political Groups, sans the NSCN (IM) on October 31, then the pact will at best be half cooked and at worst could be the recipe for yet another round of internecine killings. Brings back unpleasant days after the Shillong Accord was inked some time in 1975 and which then saw the emergence of the NSCN. A point which has been mentioned here in an earlier commentary but which is worthy of a repeat. There is also the question of how representative is the NNPGs of the Naga people, especially those from Nagaland. This poser is important for remember a leader of the NNPGs had earlier gone on record to state that the people of Nagaland have no issue with the demand of the NSCN (IM), that is a separate flag and a separate Constitution. A reflection of the divide between the Nagas of Nagaland and the Nagas whose origin is from other States ? This is where the observation of former Chief Minister SC Jamir becomes significant. Not the first time that this point has been highlighted but in asserting that only those born and brought up in Nagaland are indigenous Nagas of Nagaland, SC Jamir has a delivered a point at a critical time and this goes well with the earlier assertion of the leader of the NNPGs wherein he underlined the difference in aspiration between the Nagas of Nagaland and Nagas of other States. SC Jamir did not stop at that but also went on to assert, “A Naga of Manipur cannot claim he is an indigenous of Nagaland by virtue of being a Naga.” Not many would argue with the observation of SC Jamir, but the very fact that it has come at this point of time is what makes this all that more significant.
It is against this backdrop that all eyes will be on October 31. Yet at the same time it is also highly possible that even if the NSCN (IM) is not on board the final settlement with the NNPGs, the peace process between it and the Government of India may still continue. Remember the NNPGs came on board only in 2017 while it was the NSCN (IM) alone that walked the peace path with the Government of India. Not impossible for the same thing to repeat this time again. Moreover the peace talk between the NSCN (IM) and the Government of India is still on with the last one on October 24 being inconclusive and further meetings having been lined up. The NSCN (IM) may have also disowned the report that 300 of its cadres have left Camp Hebron, but it is highly possible that the 300 cadres may have been asked to leave camp by the leadership to take up position in the hills and in their sanctuaries across the border. Tactical pull back, one may add. Nothing final on how things will pan out in the next couple of days but already the air is thick with tension, especially in the areas dominated by the Nagas in Manipur. Security measures too have been taken up and the new developments definitely say that the Government of India is leaving nothing to chance, if the NSCN (IM) decides to pull out of the peace process.