The appointment of RN Ravi, the government of India’s interlocutor for the Naga peace talks, as the governor of Nagaland will have a bearing across the Northeast region. He was appointed on Saturday. Ravi was the Centre’s interlocutor in 2015, when the government signed a framework agreement for a settlement of the Naga issue with the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isaac-Muivah), the largest of the Naga armed groups. A retired special director of the Intelligence Bureau, he has been Prime Minster Narendra Modi’s point man in the Naga peace talks. It is four years since the framework agreement was signed, but so far nothing has moved beyond it.
There is apprehension among the people of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Manipur over the Naga peace accord. The NSCN (IM) claims a large part of the Naga inhabited areas of the three states as part of ‘Greater Nagalim’. This is opposed by the government as well as the people of the three states. Also, the role of the NSCN (IM) in the recent killing of MLA Tirong Aboh and 10 others in Tirap has emerged. The security forces have arrested one of its operatives for his alleged involvement in the killing. In the context of these concerns, the appointment of Ravi as governor is very crucial. The government of India will try to push for a final settlement of the Naga issue, and for this specific reason they have appointed him. During his days as the interlocutor, Ravi travelled extensively to the region, even to Arunachal Pradesh. He is well aware of the crux of the problem. Therefore, the NE states will expect him to work out a solution which is acceptable to all the stakeholders. The Naga peace accord is important to bring peace in the region; however, a wrong accord can create more trouble in the region.