After years of negotiations with India, Nagalim is finally working on a constitution. This remains however a complicated process and is likely to take time.

Below are extracts from an article published by the Telegraph:

The Naga issue has been entangled in a stalemate for years. But the Centre now wants the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) to set its priorities right.

Despite a ceasefire agreement for the past 10 years in Nagaland, the two sides have not been able to hammer out a solution to the problem. Building a momentum for fulfilling its demand of integration of contiguous Naga-inhabited areas, the NSCN (I-M) has graduated to now insisting on a “special federal relationship between India and Nagalim”.

To induce a political frame to its demand, the militant outfit has been asking for a separate constitution for its envisioned Nagalim.

However, the Centre is in no mood to give in. Delhi is ready to give more autonomy but that is about it, a source said.

Interlocutor for Naga talks, Union minister for labour and employment Oscar Fernandez, denied having any information about the NSCN (I-M)’s constitution. He said a constitution is written for the people.

He added, “If they believe in democracy, the Indian Constitution does just that”.

“But we are not talking about a constitution, we are talking about a relationship,” said Fernandez. He sent a curt message to the outfit to reorganise its priorities to push ahead a lagging peace process.

A source, however, said there is little chance of a separate constitution being agreed to by the Centre.

The outfit had formed a committee led by senior militant leader Angelus Shimray to draft the document. Shimray, had knowledge about the Indian Constitution and his acceptability as a counsel to general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah. But he passed away earlier this year.

The future of the exercise is not known. No dates have been fixed and negotiator K. Padmanabhaiah is on leave, a source said.

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