Revision as of 13:56, 29 September 2017

Manipur: relations with

2017: 1st Nagaland CM to visit Imphal

K Sarojkumar Sharma, In a 1st, Nagaland CM visits Imphal, May 10, 2017: The Times of India

Nagaland chief minister and Naga People's Front (NPF) supremo Shurhozelie Liezietsu paid a courtesy call to his Manipuri counterpart Nongthombam Biren Singh, and called for peaceful co-existence, putting behind the protracted strained relations between the two neighbouring states.This is the first time that a Nagaland chief minister has come to Imphal to discuss bilateral issues. Shurhozelie's NPF is a coalition partner in the Biren Singh-led government in Manipur.

Stating that peaceful co-existence among different ethnic groups would bring about development in the region, Liezietsu underscored the need to live together as good neighbours, according to tradition that has existed since time immemorial. He also said that the Meiteis should play a leading role in fostering peace and friendship among the different ethnic communities in the region.

“Now people have seen hope. We have seen some of our leaders in the past who had exploited the situation for their selfish ends and created bad feelings among different communities,“ said the Nagaland CM at a media conference, after meeting Biren Singh.

“But now with the change here in Manipur, we believe the era is already over, not only in Nagaland and Manipur, but the whole Northeast. We should have that understanding because our needs are almost the same in every way ,“ he said. “We must now realize that when we have peace we can bring about development, but when there is no peace, as we have seen in the past, there is no development,“ he added.

National Socialist Council of Nagaland, Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM)

2017: `co-existing together with shared sovereignty'

Prabin Kalita, NSCN agrees to `shared sovereignty' , May 10, 2017: The Times of India

Separate Flag, Constitution For Nagaland?

The National Socialist Council of Nagaland, Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM), after 37 years of armed struggle and 20 years of negotiations, has finally settled for `co-existing together with shared sovereignty' -a new experiment that a federal India with strong unitary features will embark on with the signing of a peace agreement soon.

In a statement, a spokesperson of NSCN (I-M) said, “As of now, the Nagas have agreed to co-exist together under shared sovereignty . The ongoing Indo-Naga political talks are progressing smoothly. The framework agreement, which will ensure peaceful coexistence between the Nagas and India with shared sovereignty , will surely usher in peace and a brighter political era for the Nagas.“ In August, 2015, the NSCN (I-M) and the Centre signed a `framework agreement' in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a final settlement. Though the exact meaning of shared sovereignty hasn't been divulged yet, sources hinted at the possibility of Nagas getting a separate constitution, flag, parliament and judiciary .

The spokesperson added that the government, in the `framework agreement' has recognized the Nagas' sove reignty and has also accepted that the Nagas are unique people with a separate entity and sovereign rights. “India has recognized the uniqueness of Naga history and culture. The Nagas were independent before the arrival of the British. Only a part of Nagalim was conquered by the British. There is no merger agreement between the Nagas and India. India invaded Nagalim and set up arbitrary boundaries “ the spokesperson further said.

33% reservation for women in urban local bodies (ULBs)

Major agitation in 2017

Xavier Rutsa, Nagaland bows to vandals, declares polls null & void Feb 04 2017 : The Times of India

Nagaland was on the boil ever since the T R Zeliang government decided to implement 33% reservation for women in urban local bodies (ULBs). Elections to 10 town councils, which were held on Wednesday 1 Feb 2017 despite opposition from all 15 Naga tribes, were 2 days later declared null and void in view of the prevailing situation.

On Thursday 2 Feb night, protesters torched buildings housing at least 20 government offices and the Kohima Press Club. The offices of the Kohima district collector and Nagaland commissioner were also stoned. The ruling Naga People's Front (NPF) office was also reportedly vandali sed and set on fire.

Tension prevailed in Kohima on Friday 3 Feb, a day after protesters set ablaze many government buildings and vehicles to oppose quota for women in the ULB polls. Bodies of two agitators who were killed in Dimapur police firing were laid to rest as thousands of mourners gathered in the state capital to pay their last respects.

An indefinite bandh called by the Angami Youth Organisation (AYO) was enforced by it in Kohima and Dimapur.

Kohima deputy commissioner and district magistrate Rajesh Soudararajan imposed Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code in four areas, including the Raj Bhavan, following the violence.

Nagaland governor P B Acharya arrived at Raj Bhavan from Itanagar on Friday 3 Feb and met members of the newly formed Nagaland Tribes Action Committee (NTAC), which comprised representatives of all apex Naga tribes.NTAC reiterated its demands before the governor, which include resignation of the CM and his cabinet and suspen sion of police personnel involved in the firing on Tuesday and Wednesday . NTAC convener K T Velie said the governor promised he would take action as per the Constitution.

Mobile data, SMS and internet services were snapped across Nagaland for at least five days. The state government had cut off these services on Monday 20 Jan to avoid spreading of rumours in view of the protests.

2017

Naga Power Play

Kaushik Deka , Naga Power Play “India Today” 6/3/2017

Nagaland CM Shurhozelie Leizietsu (seated),with senior members of the NPF

Shurhozelie Neiphiu Rio, former Nagaland chief minister and sole Lok Sabha member from the Naga People's Front (NPF), had a dream. He wanted to be CM again.

He had already served three consecutive terms, quitting in 2014 because he thought he had a shot at becoming a cabinet minister. At the time, NPF leader T.R. Zeliang had eagerly stepped in to fill the vacated post. But though Rio was elected to Parliament, he was overlooked for a cabinet post.

With Zeliang forced to resign in February this year-after Nagaland was riven by protests against his decision to implement 33 per cent reservations for women in civic elections-Rio became the obvious favourite.

But in a byzantine turn of events, NPF president Shurhozelie Liezietsu was sworn in as Nagaland's 11th chief minister on February 22 instead, highlighting the BJP's role as kingmaker in the state.

The story goes back to at least last year. In May 2016, Rio was suspended from the NPF for 'anti-party activities'; specifically, scheming to become chief minister again, at the expense of Zeliang.

That was a significant setback, but when the Nagaland Tribes Action Committee (NTAC) and Joint Coordination Committee shut down the entire state before the February 1 urban local bodies polls, Rio knew he had his chance. The NTAC announced that it would not relent until Zeliang stepped down; it was probably not a coincidence that a key member of the group was closely associated with Rio.

That was when the BJP intervened. Though it has only four legislators in the opposition-less Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) coalition government-the NPF is the major constituent with 48 legislators-it wields considerable influence.

On February 17, under pressure from NTAC, 39 NPF MLAs had asked Zeliang to step down. He flew to Delhi and had a closed-door meeting with BJP national general secretary Ram Madhav. The BJP had to be careful not to alienate Rio given his rapport with National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah) leaders.

And so, Madhav arranged a meeting between Rio and Zeliang, and a deal was struck, in which Zeliang would become finance minister in a new Rio government.

However, the deal fell through. The NSCN (I-M)'s economic blockade of Manipur had become an insupportable problem for the BJP's brass, hurting the party's chances in state elections beginning March 4.

And in the end, it was Rio's earlier suspension that settled matters. Enter Liezietsu, with a rather unceremonious exit for Rio.

2017

Zeliang challenges Liezietsu

Prabin Kalita|HC stays Nagaland guv floor test order|Jul 15 2017 : The Times of India (Delhi)

Patch Up With Rebels, Acharya Tells CM The Kohima bench of the Gauhati high court spelt brief relief for Nagaland chief minister Shurhozelie Liezietsu, staying till Monday governor P B Acharya's directive that a floor test be held on or before Saturday to prove the CM's majority. The matter will come up for hearing on Monday.

Acharya had asked Leizeitsu to prove his majority after his predecessor T R Zeliang staked claim to form the government, claiming the support of 33 NPF MLAs and seven Independents (see graphic).

In his petition before the court, Liezietsu said the decision of the governor was “ex-facie unconstitutional, illegal, arbitrary and violative of the... basic features of the Constitution“.

Liezeitsu pointed out that the process of byelection -through which he is seeking election -is already under way , and that it was “imperative and incumbent upon the governor to call upon the petitioner to prove their majority on the floor of the House only pursuant to the bypoll wherein the petitioner is a candidate“. The bypoll is scheduled for July 29. Meanwhile, Acharya asked Leizeitsu to reconcile with dissident Naga People's Front (NPF) legislators, the CM's office said.

July 2017: Zeliang challenges Liezietsu

The CM has already set the ball rolling for the reconciliation process by revoking the suspension of 10 MLAs, including Zeliang, and the state's lone Lok Sabha member Neiphiu Rio. “The party decided that all of them are NPF members and hence their suspension should be withdrawn. This is a crisis in the family ... NPF... and not in the alliance where BJP is our partner,“ he told TOI on Fri day morning. He added that he was ready to step down if the governor asked him to.“The governor has absolute powers to sack my government, but I believe he will do justice. If the governor wants me to step down, I will listen to him. But people are happy with my governance,“ Liezietsu said.

The rebellion in NPF has reduced Liezietsu's government to a minority, and he had recently accused ally BJP of engineering the crisis to grab power in the state like “they did in Arunachal last year“.