As the quest for the Naga political solution persists, the issue is characterized by an ongoing paper and ideology war between the NSCN-IM and NNPGs marking the latest chapter. Meanwhile, today, December 5, the Nagas in the Tirap, Changlang, and Longding districts of Arunachal Pradesh convened public rallies at various locations, demanding the establishment of an autonomous council for the districts of Arunachal’s Tirap, Changlang, and Longding.
According to reports, the rallies were organized under the banner of Tirap Changlang Longding People’s Forum (TCLPF), in collaboration with TCLSU, DSU, TCLSF, CBOs, PRI members, NGOs, GBs, and the civil societies of the TCL region. The rally in Khonsa, the headquarters of Tirap district, concluded peacefully with the submission of a public memorandum addressed to Prime Minister Modi, outlining the earnest plea for the establishment of the Tirap Changlang Longding District Autonomous Council, according to reports.
The demand for the creation of the Patkai Autonomous District Council (PADC) in Arunachal Pradesh dates back to December 2003, when a memorandum was initially submitted to the Cabinet of Arunachal Pradesh. The State Assembly supported this initiative in February 2004, with both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government and the Indian National Congress (INC) favoring the proposal, as reported by noctedigest.com.
Despite successive governments of the state endorsing the formation of an autonomous council to address the developmental needs of the Naga-inhabited areas, the proposal has been pending with the Home Ministry since 2014, subsequent to receiving clearance from the Cabinet in 2013.
The historical context of the Patkai hills, recognized as the home to Tangsa Naga, Tutsa Naga, Nocte Naga, Wancho Naga, Ollo Naga by the Constitution, traces back to their inclusion in the North East Frontier Tract in 1914, later renamed North East Frontier Agency. The demand for autonomy stems from socio-economic conditions and perceived neglect, with the Tirap, Changlang, and Longding districts having consistently cited poor and unequal distribution of funds.
In a 2017 press statement, the Tirap, Changlang and Longding People’s Forum (TCLPF) stated that while the Nagas of Tirap-Changlang and Longding are not against integration of all the Naga areas, they however “will also not oppose if a separate solution for Tirap-Changlang and Longding is granted.”
In the same 2017 press statement, the TCLPF highlighted the prolonged neglect experienced by Tirap-Changlang and Longding due to their geographical remoteness, compounded by inadequate and uneven distribution of funds. It disclosed that the maximum funds allocated to TCL under the Department of Tirap-Changlang and Longding (DoTCL) until 2016 amounted to a mere Rs 25 Crore. The forum expressed astonishment over an article wherein the NTC claimed that the present Nagaland state withdrew and utilized Rs 2335 crores within a year from April 2016 to March 2017 through only 11 departments, deeming the revelation “astonishingly jaw-dropping.”
In 2017, the forum articulated concerns about the disparity created among the Naga community over more than five decades since being placed under different states. It also observed how certain Naga political groups and civil societies had consistently appealed for an “exclusive solution” for the people of Nagaland state or “mainland Nagaland,” signaling an unwillingness to shoulder the responsibility for Tirap-Changlang and Longding.
The TCLPF added that, after years of sacrifice and enduring various forms of suffering, the residents of the area were wary of any solution to the Indo-Naga issue in the TCL area resembling a move “from a frying pan to a fire.” Reflecting on historical engagement, the forum lamented the lack of sincere efforts from successive governments of Nagaland or civil societies to reach out since 1963.
As of 2023, the TCLPF’s stance persists, with media interactions revealing an unchanged demand for increased funds in the region under the Department of Tirap, Changlang, and Longding (DoTCL). N Changmi, the president of TCL People’s Forum, emphasized that the current financial support “can merely sustain the cost of building one building,” underlining the pressing need for an autonomous council to facilitate regional development.
President of the Wancho Council, Somnai Wangpan, underscored the challenges arising from the region’s 500 km boundary with neighboring countries, citing issues such as drug trafficking and the presence of anti-national elements. Additionally, Wangpan pointed out the region’s lag in socio-economic development, amplifying the urgency for transformative measures.