JULY 29, 2018 • THE WEEK 33native administrative arrangement for
the Naga-dominated areas is not only
going to create chaos, but could also
invite civil war. It will destroy the social
and cultural fabric of the state.”
Senior offi cials in the home ministry
said that while the Centre has the pow-
er to bring a constitutional amendment
or tweak Article 371(A) to give more
powers to Naga-inhabited regions, care
is being taken to avoid such a move.
Th e current Parliament session began
on July 18, but a cautious home minis-
try has not yet listed any bill regarding
this.
All the while, Biren Singh and his
team of 30 legislators are watching
closely. Th e security situation in Mani-
pur has started improving and neither
the home ministry nor the state gov-
ernment wants any violence between
the ethnic groups owing to the pressure
tactics of the Naga outfi ts.
“Th e citizenship issue is already
plaguing Assam, where the govern-
ment is trying to create a national
register of citizens,” said a senior gov-
ernment offi cial. “Manipur is also ap-
prehensive about the demands of the
Naga groups. We will keep everything
in mind before we take a decision.”
Th e signing of a Naga peace accord,
especially before the 2019 Lok Sabha
elections, will be a feather in Modi’scap. He can claim credit for ending the
long-running insurgency. Like in 1985,
when prime minister Rajiv Gandhi got
credit for signing the Assam Accord.
However, there are also lessons to
be learnt from history. In June 2001,
the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government
had extended the ceasefi re with the
NSCN(IM) “without territorial limits”.
Th ose three words set Manipur on fi re,
literally. Th e secretariat was torched
and violent protests claimed 18 lives.
Th is forced the government to revert to
the original ceasefi re rules.
So, if and when the Modi govern-
ment inks a peace deal, each word will
count.WATCH YOUR STEP
Prime Minister Narendra Modi
with NSCN(IM) general secretary
Thuingaleng Muivah and National
Security Adviser Ajit Doval