Posted on by Insights Editor
Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Nagaland Assembly forms panel on Naga political issue

Topics Covered: Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure, devolution of powers and finances up to local levels and challenges therein.

Nagaland Assembly forms panel on Naga political issue:

Context:

The Nagaland Assembly has formed a seven-member drafting committee on the Naga political issue that has been hanging fire for more than two decades.

Background:

  • After decades of armed extremism, peace dawned on Nagaland in 1997 after the Isak-Muivah faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland, or NSCN (IM), declared a ceasefire.
  • Several rounds of talks have, however, failed to yield a solution to the political problem, apart from the August 2015 Framework Agreement between the Centre and the NSCN (IM) and the November 2017 Agreed Position between the Centre and the Naga National Political Groups (NNPGs).

How old is the Naga political issue?

  1. Pre- independence:
  • The British annexed Assam in 1826, and in 1881, the Naga Hills too became part of British India. The first sign of Naga resistance was seen in the formation of the Naga Club in 1918, which told the Simon Commission in 1929 “to leave us alone to determine for ourselves as in ancient times”.
  • In 1946 came the Naga National Council (NNC), which declared Nagaland an independent state on August 14, 1947.
  • The NNC resolved to establish a “sovereign Naga state” and conducted a “referendum” in 1951, in which “99 per cent” supported an “independent” Nagaland.
  1. Post- independence:

On March 22, 1952, underground Naga Federal Government (NFG) and the Naga Federal Army (NFA) were formed. The Government of India sent in the Army to crush the insurgency and, in 1958, enacted the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act.

InstaLinks:

Prelims Link:

  1. Parts of States included under Greater Nagalim.
  2. About Naga Club and NNC.
  3. When was the Naga Referendum held?
  4. Overview of AFSPA.
  5. Overview of Article 371 and sub provisions thereunder.

Mains Link:

Discuss the issues and challenges associated with the Naga Peace Accord.

Sources: the Hindu.