Naga and Kuki Political Demands: Feasibility and Obstacles

The political demands of the Naga and Kuki communities in Northeast India are centred on self-determination, territory, and identity, with the government of India seeking a solution within the constitutional framework. The feasibility of these demands is heavily obstructed by competing claims over territory and the reluctance of the Centre to concede on issues of sovereignty.

⛰️ Naga Political Demands and Feasibility

The Naga issue is India's longest-running insurgency, with peace negotiations ongoing for decades, notably since the 1997 ceasefire with the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) or NSCN-IM.

Key Demands

• Greater Nagalim (Nagalim): The integration of all contiguous Naga-inhabited areas across the existing states of Nagaland, Manipur, Assam, and Arunachal Pradesh (and parts of Myanmar) into one administrative and political unit.
• Separate Naga Flag and Constitution (Yehzabo): The demand for symbols of sovereignty to be formally recognized as part of a final settlement.
• Sovereignty/Co-existence: While some factions initially sought complete independence, the current negotiations focus on a model of co-existence with India, recognising the "unique history" of the Nagas.

Obstructions to Feasibility

• Territorial Integrity of Neighbouring States: The demand for Greater Nagalim is the primary obstruction. The neighbouring states of Manipur, Assam, and Arunachal Pradesh have strongly and repeatedly asserted that they will not cede an inch of their land. Redrawing state boundaries is politically unviable for the central government due to the risk of triggering violence and instability across the region.
• Symbols of Sovereignty: The NSCN-IM's insistence on a separate flag and constitution has stalled the peace process since 2019. The Government of India maintains that such symbols of sovereignty cannot be granted outside the Indian constitutional framework.
• Factionalism and Extortion: Fragmentation among Naga political groups (reports of up to 30 factions) and the continuation of a parallel "taxation" system by armed groups hinder peace and development, creating public impatience for a final, stable solution.
• Government's Position: The Government of India's position is to grant regional autonomy and specific administrative, cultural, and financial safeguards within the framework of the Indian Constitution, without compromising territorial integrity or national sovereignty.

🏘️ Kuki Political Demands and Feasibility

The Kuki-Zo political demand has been forcefully renewed following the ethnic violence that began in Manipur in May 2023. The two umbrella groups, the Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and the United People's Front (UPF), are under a Suspension of Operations (SoO) pact with the government.

Key Demands

• Union Territory (UT) with a Legislative Assembly: The core demand is for a separate administration for the Kuki-Zo inhabited areas of Manipur, citing that co-existence with the Meitei community under the current state administrative setup is no longer possible after the 2023 violence.
• Protection of Tribal Land Rights: Measures to protect traditional tribal land rights, uphold the authority of village chiefs, and simplify administrative procedures (like land registration), which are currently centralised in the Meitei-dominated Imphal Valley.
• Historical Autonomy: The demand is justified by claiming the Kuki-Zo Hills were historically "Excluded Areas" under the British and were never under the direct control of the Meitei king, arguing the demand is a call to restore pre-independence autonomy within the Indian Constitution.

Obstructions to Feasibility

• Government Policy and Territorial Integrity: The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has stated that its current policy does not support the creation of new Union Territories. Creating a UT would effectively lead to the dismemberment of the existing state of Manipur, an act strongly opposed by the majority Meitei community, who are insistent on preserving the state's territorial integrity.
• Meitei Opposition: Meitei civil society organisations have vociferously opposed the demand for a separate administration, viewing it as a move towards secession and a threat to Manipur's existence.
• Inter-Ethnic Conflict: The long-standing ethnic and territorial disputes, including the previous Kuki-Naga conflicts over land, complicate any potential political settlement that involves territorial changes.
• Need for Consultations: The Centre has stressed the need for wider consultations with all communities in Manipur to find a negotiated solution, indicating that a unilateral decision on a UT is unlikely.

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📚 References

Naga Demands (Greater Nagalim, Sovereignty)

• Conflict Analysis and Historical Context:

Singh, P. (2017). The peace process in Nagaland: Challenges and prospects. Asian Ethnicity, 18(4), 517–530. https://doi.org/10.1080/14631369.2016.1176228

• Obstruction—Territorial Integrity:

IANS. (2020, December 1). Manipur, Arunachal, Assam firm on not ceding land for 'Greater Nagalim'. The Economic Times. Retrieved November 29, 2025, from [Insert URL for a relevant news article on this topic]

• Obstruction—Flag and Constitution:

Kalita, K. P. (2022, June 20). Naga peace talks stuck on flag, constitution. The Hindu. Retrieved November 29, 2025, from [Insert URL for a relevant news article on this topic]

Kuki-Zo Demands (Separate Administration/UT)

• Core Demand Post-2023 Conflict:

Haokip, T. (2023). Ethnic violence in Manipur: The demand for a separate Kuki administration. Economic and Political Weekly, 58(33). [Insert URL for a relevant academic/journal article on this topic]

• Government Position and Meitei Opposition:

Roy, T. (2023, August 16). MHA rules out separate UT for Kuki areas, calls for dialogue. The Indian Express. Retrieved November 29, 2025, from [Insert URL for a relevant news article on this topic]

• Historical Context and Autonomy Claims:

Zou, T. Z. (2010). The Zou and the Kuki-Chins in Manipur: History and contemporary politics. The Journal of Northeast Indian Culture, 1(1), 59–78. [Insert URL for a relevant academic/journal article on this topic]

Video Reference (If cited in the text)

• Video:

India Today Northeast. (2023, August 3). Separate admin demand won't obstruct Centre's normalcy efforts in Manipur: Kuki-Zo Council head [Video]. YouTube. [Insert URL for the video]