Show of maturity

By entering in to a ceasefire agreement with the Garo Hills based ANVC, the Centre has sent a strong signal that like the previous NDA Government, the UPA Government too is willing to restore peace and normalcy in the trouble-torn North-East Region. What is more heartening is the fact that with the change of guards at the Centre, the policies and priorities of the Central Government has not been changed. K. Padmanabhaiah is continuing as the chief emissary of the Prime Minister and presently holding talks with the Naga leaders in Bangkok. Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga has been requested by the Centre to continue his endeavour to bring back the misguided youths of the region to the mainstream. In case of Kashmir, N. N. Vora has also been retained.

These things should be mentioned here as while the transfer of power was taking place rumours were flying high and thick that those who were heading various peace missions on behalf of Government of India would be shown the door. Political vendetta was being cited as the main reason for their possible departures. But all credits should go to UPA Government as it has so far restrained itself from taking such hasty decisions. If large scale changing and chopping had taken place soon after the UPA Government came to power, definitely it would have sent a wrong signal.

Take the case of the ongoing Naga peace process. Mr. Padmanabhaiah is holding talks with NSCN (IM) leaders for couple of years now. It appears that the former union home secretary has played a major role in keeping the hopes alive for an amicable settlement of the Naga problem through dialogue. Now, changing him at such a juncture could have spoiled the gains of the last seven years, since when the ceasefire has come into effect. Temptations were there.

Nagaland state unit of the Congress had demanded his head. The demand was echoed from some other influential quarters too. But the Centre did not pay any heed to this demand. Centre’s mature way of handling the situation has made us optimistic over the return of peace in the North-Eastern region.

But there are few apprehensions too. History shows that whenever there appeared a possibility of a breakthrough, influential quarters with vested interests had always been able to scuttle the move. Sensing the futility of jungle life, not only ANVC, but also many other underground groups active in the region have expressed their willingness to come to the negotiation table. Almost all the major leaders of NLFT have either returned or planning to return to the mainstream. People with vested interests will definitely leave no stone unturned to spoil the pro peace wave in the region.

Thus to bring back peace in the North-East, the government should identify these people and spoil their efforts at the earliest.

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