S C Jamir Bats for President’s Rule in Nagaland, Seeks Naga Peace Deal by 2026

By NIRENDRA DEV

At 95, veteran Naga leader S C Jamir has made a sharp political intervention, calling for President’s Rule in Nagaland and demanding that the Centre conclude the Naga peace process by the end of 2026.

Dimapur, September 12, 2026 — Veteran Naga leader and former Nagaland chief minister S C Jamir has called for President’s Rule in Nagaland, arguing that the state’s present coalition government has become “nothing but a shadow” and that the Centre must intervene to restore what he described as the normal health of governance.

Speaking at a press conference in Dimapur on Saturday, the 95-year-old leader also urged the Centre to conclude the long-running Naga peace negotiations and sign a final Solution Agreement with all Naga underground factions by the end of 2026.

Jamir’s remarks came two days after his meeting with Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat in Delhi. The meeting, which lasted more than an hour, covered the Naga political issue, constitutional questions, India’s plural character and the relationship between the RSS and Christian-majority Nagaland, according to Jamir’s account.

“Now time is changing, I told them (RSS leaders). Changing times and changing vision. There is an ever-changing phenomenon, that time is ever changing phenomenon and nobody can stop it. Nobody can change it too… because God is our Cross,” Jamir said.

He stressed that political and social thinking must evolve with changing circumstances.

“That means we have to change our thoughts, our minds. We have to change according to times,” he said.

Jamir said he had decided to meet Bhagwat personally because of what he described as considerable confusion among people in Nagaland about the RSS, BJP and related political issues.

“No one has gone to the roots. Therefore, I decided that I should meet personally the chief of RSS,” he said, adding that his intention was to clarify his views on the Constitution and its history.

Jamir invokes India’s plural character

Jamir, who served as Nagaland chief minister and later as Governor of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa and Odisha, underlined the idea of India as a plural and multicultural nation.

“What makes an Indian? I ask. What makes an Indian? There is unity in diversity,” he said, pointing to the different cultures and geographical identities across states.

Jamir said he had also sought assurances from the RSS leadership that the organisation would not directly or indirectly confront churches or Christians.

“Nagas are very emotional and very touchy about our religious identity,” he said.

“I urged for some kinds of assurance from the RSS chief that his organisation directly or indirectly will never confront Church or Christians.”

He specifically opposed programmes such as Ghar Wapsi in Nagaland and other parts of the Northeast.

“We would not like programmes such as Ghar Wapsi (back to Hinduism) in states like Nagaland or in any parts of north-east India,” he said.

Jamir described himself as a “born Christian and a tribal Naga” and recalled an exchange with former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

He said he had once told Vajpayee that they had two differences: Jamir was a Christian while Vajpayee was a Hindu, and Jamir was a tribal Naga while Vajpayee was an upper-caste Hindu Brahmin.

According to Jamir, Vajpayee responded humorously that there was a third difference: while Vajpayee spoke about Akhand Bharat, Jamir had actually taken bullets to keep India “akhand”.

Jamir was attacked by Naga militants more than once. In November 1992, he sustained grievous bullet injuries after a life attempt was made on him in Nagaland House, 29 APJ Abdul Kalam (Aurangzeb Road).

For Jamir, the episode underlined his larger argument that Nagas could simultaneously retain their distinct religious and tribal identity while being committed to India.

“Nagas are nationalists and patriots,” he said, referring also to Naga contributions to the armed forces, civil services and other professions.

There was one Naga army officer who laid down life during the Kargil conflict in 1999.

Call for conclusion of Naga peace talks

The Naga political issue remained central to Jamir’s message.

He urged the Centre to negotiate with authority, particularly with the leadership of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim-Isak Muivah (NSCN-IM), and argued that the prolonged peace process could not continue indefinitely.

Jamir said the RSS leadership should impress upon Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah to sign a final Naga Solution Agreement, preferably by the end of 2026.

He also criticised what he described as attempts to prolong the status quo.

“All discussions on Naga talks are over as stated by Nagaland Governor R N Ravi in 2020,” Jamir said, while alleging that a “Sabotage or Status Quo club” wanted to delay a final settlement.

He claimed that prolonged uncertainty had allowed violence and suffering to become financially lucrative for some interests.

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Jamir questions Nagaland government

The veteran leader was equally critical of the political situation in Nagaland.

He described the state’s party-less government as “nothing but a shadow” and criticised the BJP’s participation in the coalition led by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio.

Jamir alleged that Rio had repeatedly shown a favourable tilt towards one particular Naga underground group.

He ultimately called for the dismissal or ouster of the present NPF-BJP dispensation.

“The Government of India should help restore the normal health of the government in Nagaland under President’s Rule,” he said.

The demand marks a sharp intervention by one of Nagaland’s most senior political figures at a time when the Naga peace process remains unresolved.

From Nehru to the present

Jamir’s political career spans much of independent India’s history. He served in the early years of the republic, including as a Parliamentary Secretary under Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, later becoming chief minister of Nagaland and serving as Governor in several states.

He said he had worked closely in different capacities with successive prime ministers beginning with Nehru.

His meeting with Bhagwat therefore carried particular significance in his own account.

“As Governor of Gujarat for a brief spell, I have held official and even informal discussions on socio-economic and political matters with former RSS pracharak and the then chief minister, Shri Narendra Modi — who is now Prime Minister of India,” Jamir said.

“But anything formal and that too with a man of Shri Bhagwat’s stature is first time today and hence it has a special significance.”

Jamir described the RSS as a serious social organisation committed to its own definition of cultural nationalism, while making clear that his principal concern was the protection of Nagaland’s religious and cultural identity within India.

He also argued that India’s multi-religious and multi-cultural character remained its greatest strength.

“The Democracy has not only survived; but it has thrived along with unprecedented scales of Development and new heights of scientific achievements and wisdom,” he said.

Referring to the wider South Asian neighbourhood, Jamir contrasted India’s trajectory since 1947 with the political instability experienced by Pakistan and Bangladesh.

His message, however, returned repeatedly to the same point: changing times require changing political approaches, and the Naga issue cannot remain unresolved indefinitely.

At 95, Jamir, a former Congress leader, is no longer seeking an electoral mandate. But his call for President’s Rule in Nagaland, coupled with his appeal for a final Naga peace settlement by the end of 2026, places the veteran leader back at the centre of a debate that has shaped the politics of the Northeast for generations.

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