THE GIST of Editorial for UPSC Exams : 05 November 2019 (Dimapur deadlock (Indian Express))

Dimapur deadlock (Indian Express)

Mains Paper 3: Security
Prelims level : Not much
Mains level : Naga peace process

Context

• The ceasefire in Nagaland continues to hold. Centre had set October 31 as the deadline to conclude a peace deal with the NSCN-IM. It has passed and there is no clarity yet on an accord.

The talks

• The talks between the Centre and Naga rebels, primarily the NSCN-IM, have been held for 22 years.
• The Naga civil society has participated in the peace process and prepared the ground for a negotiated settlement to the insurgency.

Reasons for the deadlock

• Reports suggest that the deadlock is over the rebels’ demand for a separate flag and constitution for Nagaland.
• They hint at the concept of “shared sovereignty”. NSCN-IM leadership has talked about it soon after it signed the Indo-Naga Framework Agreement in 2015.
• The details of that agreement have not been revealed, but the leeway for such innovations may have reduced after the Centre’s actions in J&K.
• The government has ended the special status and has its own flag, accorded to J&K.
• Naga rebels have climbed down from their demand for full independence. But they persisted with the demand for Nagalim.
• Nagalim is a territorial entity much larger than the present state of Nagaland and includes Naga inhabited areas that fall in Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. This can trigger unrest in Nagaland’s neighbourhood.
• Non-Naga populations in the region have warned of action if any attempt is made to redraw the existing state boundaries.

Way ahead

• The rebels need to respect the sentiment for peace.
• The Centre must provide the negotiating space for the civil society to satisfy its constituency.
• The rebels will have to re-imagine the idea of a Naga nation and de-link it from the territory.
• The Centre should respect the sentiments of political groups founded on notions of ethnic exclusivity and desist from imposing unitarian notions of nationhood.

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Prelims Questions:

Q.1) With reference to the Gender Inequality Index, consider the following statements:
1. It measures inequality between men and women across the dimensions of reproductive health, empowerment and labour market.
2. A value of zero represents fair equality and one represents high inequality.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Correct Answer: C
Mains Questions:
Q.1) What are the steps required for Naga talks process by both Centre and rebels?