In a bid to break the impasse over talks aimed at ending the decades-old insurgency in the Naga Hills, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee today gave the go-ahead to grant statutory status to Naga Hoho, the apex tribal council, with jurisdiction over Nagas in Nagaland and neighbouring states. In a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani this evening, the PM agreed to the proposal which will be offered to the NSCN (I-M) — the main insurgent outfit involved in talks with the Centre — in lieu of its controversial demand for a ‘Greater Nagaland.’ Barring political matters, Naga Hoho will have a say on religious, social, cultural and educational matters of Nagas wherever they may be — Nagaland, Manipur, Assam or Arunachal Pradesh. Sources said that the Centre’s interlocutor K Padmanabhaiah has been asked to try and make the NSCN (I-M) accept this formula. He is expected to continue his dialogue with the outfit abroad. ‘‘It could be Bangkok early next month but the place is yet to be finalised,’’ sources said. ‘‘This package was worked out after much brainstorming to appease the NSCN (I-M) and make them give up their demand for a Greater Nagaland whose proposed boundaries include, other than Nagaland, the Naga-inhabited districts of Ukhrul, Senapati, Tamenglong and Chandel in Manipur, parts of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh,’’ a senior Home Ministry official said. There has been stiff opposition, especially in Manipur, to the Greater Nagaland concept and any concession on that front could mean trouble in affected states because it’s seen as a direct threat to their territorial integrity. Sources said that upgrading the status of Naga Hoho was the closest they could come to uniting all Naga-inahabited areas. With this, they hope to convince NSCN leaders Isaac Chishi Swu and Thuingaleng Muivah thattheir demand — Nagas should be recognised as Nagas wherever they are living — had been met. The statutory status of the tribal council will provide the Nagas immunity against possible disputes over jurisdiction with governments of neighbouring states. To ensure that the arrangement does not create bad blood in adjoining states, the Centre plans to confine the council’s jurisdiction to personal laws and cultural matters of Nagas. Source said that the Centre would take care it does not interfere with the jurisdiction of states on any other aspect.
