Article 371(A) and Nagaland State: Apprehensions and perceived threat

Newmai News Network
Dimapur | June 5

Apprehension has cropped up among the people of Nagaland that Article 371(A) may be abrogated by the Modi led NDA government. This apprehension has come up after the NDA government talked of opening a debate on Article 370 of the Indian Constitution which grants special autonomous status to Jammu and Kashmir.

There have been rising discussions on micro-blogging sites and social media networks on Nagaland’s Article 371(A). Article 371(A) of the Constitution of India protects some rights of some Naga people. It is also an “agreement of accession” to the Indian Union, according to Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) leader KV Pusa. He said if Article 371(A) is abrogated, it will be akin to the abrogation of the 16-Point Agreement.

Meanwhile, there are mixed feelings among the Nagas as the Modi led NDA government has come up with many serious indications on all fronts including the insurgency issues of the country. The appointment of former Chief of the Army Staff, VK Singh, as the DoNER minister speaks volumes. The approach of the 10 days old NDA government on internal security too is another indication that the Narendra Modi government means business and ready to deal with things with an iron hand.

A noted Naga intellectual who wished not to be named said that things will be extreme, either for good or for bad for insurgency issues in the North East and in Kashmir. He added that Modi may do things in a ‘straight-forward’ manner and not based on popular voice when it comes to ‘security’ issues. In that case, the Naga intellectual feared that even the hard earned cease fire agreements with various Naga underground outfits may be abrogated if Modi feels that is going to enhance the security aspect of the country. “Modi is a typical old fashioned nationalist of India,” the Naga intellectual added.