Autonomy politics gain momentum in Northeast?

The demand for a constitutional solution by the Tipra Motha on the other hand, is part of its original demand for a Greater Tipraland

The politics of autonomy has gained momentum in Northeast with the Centre actively engaged in working towards an acceptable solution to at least 2 agreements, while one is festering.

Over the last few weeks, hectic discussions have been held with the representatives of the Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation in Nagaland which led to the drafting of a proposal to solve the decade-and-a-half-long issue.

If highly placed sources are to be believed, the Centre is also close to clinching the deal as far as the Tipra Motha’s demand for a constitutional solution in Tripura.

Add to it, the demand for separate administration is also gaining momentum in the Kuki-dominated districts of Manipur with over a couple of meetings held at locations in Assam reportedly with central representatives.

While the demand for separate administration by the Kuki leaders is facing stiff opposition from the Manipur government which is bent on upholding the territorial integrity of the state, the movements for greater autonomy by groups in Nagaland and Tripura have been more or less accepted as genuine by the Centre which is engaging with them to find a solution to the issues.

As part of its proactive approach to resolve most issues of the Northeast by 2024, the Centre under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership continues to work on a war footing on the issues.

The ENPO demand, for instance, has been lingering since 2008. The demand for constitutional solution by the Tipra Motha on the other hand, is part of its original demand for a Greater Tipraland.

Significantly both the ENPO and Tipra Motha demands gained massive momentum just ahead of the assembly polls in the states of Nagaland and Tripura earlier this year, forcing the Centre to take note. While the ENPO threatened to boycott the polls, the Tipra Motha decided to contest the polls on the issue of Greater Tipraland.

After months of brisk negotiations with the MHA, the ENPO deal has made big progress with the Centre coming up with a proposal for the state government and stakeholders to consider.
There seems to be a near-similar arrangement as far as the Constitutional solution demand by Tipra Motha is concerned.

The big question now is, will the intensification of the autonomy demands in Nagaland, Tripura and now Manipur, trigger similar demands among the myriad of ethnic groups in the region? Will it once again raise the bogey of the right to self-determination among the ethnicities in the Northeast? We will have to wait and watch…

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