HVK Archives: The North East in ferment
The North East in ferment - The Observer
TV Rajeswar
()
31 October 1996
Title : The North East in ferment
Author : TV Rajeswar
Publication : The Observer
Date : October 31, 1996
Prime Minister Deve Gowda has just concluded an extensive
visit to the north eastern states to acquaint himself of
the problems of the region. Assam, Arunachal Pradesh,
Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura consti-
tute the 'arc of crisis' in India's sensitive north
eastern borders.
This region has undergone extraordinary transformation
since independence. Tripura lost its ethnic character
due to the massive influx of Bengalis from the former
East Pakistan, with the original inhabitants reduced to a
minority.
Today, the Seven Sisters are in varying degrees of dis-
tress. In most of the states insurgency had surfaced,
tackled for a while, resurfaced with split groups, but
none of them eradicated for ever.
Even today the law and order situation in Nagaland is
precarious with daylight attacks on security forces and
officials.
The National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) had
split into two factions. The NSCN had become a sort of
umbrella outfit, giving training and allied support to
the various insurgent units all over the north east.
>From the Bodo insurgents of Assam to the Dimasas and
other tribal groups in the North Cachar and the TNV in
Tripura, the NSCN is the common link.
Mr Gowda's offer to review the ban on NSCN may not lead
to any positive results. The promise to discuss with
insurgents in the region without preconditions should not
result in an eventual propaganda advantage to them.
The Bodoland Accord of 1993 could solve nothing. The
Bodos are not in a majority in any specific district or
area which could be grouped together into a viable unit.
The notifying of 2570 villages spread over seven dis-
tricts led to Bodo extremists demanding 550 more villag-
es.
What, is, more alarming is the demand for including a ten
kilometre belt along the Assam-Bhutan border as well as
inclusion of several tea gardens in the demarcated areas.
The ultimate object of the Bodos is to carve out a Bodo
state with a Bodo majority. The prime minister has
rightly rejected this demand, though this is likely to
result in an outburst of violence in the North Assam
districts.
Over the years, the migration, of Bangladeshis has sub-
stantially changed the economic and political life In
Assam. The student agitation which started in 1978, the
Assam Accord of i985, the - AGP government and the subse-
quent administrative measures h.ad failed to tackle the
problem.
Mr Gowda's reported promise to scrap the I M (D) Act,
1983, which was a long pending demand of AASU should be
followed by an intensive revision of the electoral rolls
and identification and deportation of foreigners.
Meghalaya has a long running agitation against outsiders
even at the cost of basic development projects.
In Tripura, the problem of Chakma refugees remains unre-
solved.
The Chitagong Hill Tracts Regulations of 1900, brought
into force by the British, had ensured for the Chakmas
the security of their land and forest areas. After 1947,
Pakistan abolished the regulations and began a deliberate
policy of settling Muslims, especially ex-servicemen in
CHT.
Regrettably, Bangladesh too perpetuated this policy. At
present, there are nearly a lakh of Chakmas in India, of
whom about 64,000 are in Tripura and about 20,000 in
Arunachal Pradesh.
The students In Arunachal had started an agitation
against the Chakmas and the electoral politics compelled
the state government to go with them.
In Manipur, inter-tribal rivalries, increasing insurgency
and the, ambushes on security forces seem to have come to
stay.
The Insurgent groups are thriving on compulsory levy on
government servants, contractors, merchants and virtually
every segment of the society.
The chief minister Rishang' Kishing ruefully admitted
this at a recent meeting, but the malady is much deeper.
indeed this is a longstanding phenomenon which is also
prevalent in Nagaland and parts of Assam.
The political leaders in the region have been in the
habit of quietly and regularly paying oil the insurgent
leaders to buy their own safety.
The ISI of Pakistan has been extremely active in this
region with active cooperation from Bangladesh intel-
ligence.
Practically every insurgent unit there has had links with
them and they had received training and other forms of
assistance.
After Sheikh Hasina Wajed became the prime minister of
Bangladesh, there are signs that the ISI is somewhat
restrained. However, this has to be carefully monitored
by security agencies.
There is a clamour from the chief ministers in the region
for a special dispensation. The fact is that the entire
north east enjoys a special dispensation already: The
Inner Line Permit System gives special protection to
Nagaland, Mizoram . and Arunachal Pradesh.
Except in Assam, there are restrictions on and sale of
land to outsiders. The Income-tax laws are not applica-
ble to the tribal states. More than anything else the
fund allocations have been very liberal in gross dispro-
portionate to the meagre population in each of the
states.
The North Eastern Council deals with projects covering
more than one state in the north east.
It consists of all the chief ministers and the governors
of north east who meet at least once a year and discuss
the common problems.
The NEC has been an Ineffective body since various states
have their own plan allocations and there is not much
which the NEC can add to them.
Prafulla Mahanta's suggestion regarding constituting a
new administrative zone for the north east is similar to
an earlier demand for having a central minister dealing
with the region.
Mr Gowda has also announced a package which included Rs
6100 crore to be spent on infrastructural projects during
the ninth five year plan, the appointment of a high-level
commission and a high level expert committee to examine
the development problems and make recommendations for
their speedy implementation.
While it Is in the fitness of things to allocate funds
liberally to the region in view of its historical back-
wardness, it is necessary to ensure that these funds are
properly spent and the wastage and pilferage do not
exceed permissible limits.
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