Long-standing separatist movements across India's northeastern states are witnessing a significant resurgence, with leaders reaffirming their commitment to self-determination and openly challenging the authority of the central government in New Delhi. From Nagaland to Manipur and Assam, these freedom struggles, rooted in historical grievances and allegations of state repression, are gaining renewed momentum, highlighting the persistent internal fractures within the world's so-called largest democracy .
The Naga struggle for sovereignty, one of the longest-running in the region, continues to be a focal point of resistance. In a powerful speech commemorating the 79th Naga Independence Day. Muivah, the General Secretary of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN), delivered a warning to the Indian government. He declared that the Nagas "do not demand anything from India and Burma (Myanmar) but we declare and proclaim what is rightfully ours". Muivah emphatically stated that core issues such as the Nagalim national flag, national constitution (Yehzabo), and the integration of all Naga contiguous areas are "non-negotiable" . His speech underscored a deep-seated resentment towards what the Nagas perceive as decades of political suppression, dating back to India's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, and the imposition of the draconian Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in 1958.
The unrest is not confined to Nagaland. A recent analysis of India's secessionist movements notes that the region is a hotbed of multiple freedom struggles, each with its own unique history of alienation . In Manipur, the conflict is described as stemming from complex ethnic tensions between the dominant Meiteis and over thirty hill tribes, with Kuki-Zomi and Naga tribes seeking autonomy . The situation remains volatile, with a peace accord elusive despite ongoing violence . In Assam, the movement originated from fears of cultural erosion and economic marginalization due to large-scale migration, leading to the formation of groups like the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) which have long sought independence . These movements collectively highlight what analysts describe as unresolved historical injustices and a failure of the Indian state to address legitimate grievances.
Despite a ceasefire being in place since 1997 and the landmark Framework Agreement of 2015, the Indo-Naga political talks are perceived to be in a state of deadlock . While the Framework Agreement was hailed as a step toward an "enduring inclusive new relationship," its implementation has stalled . Compounding the problem are internal challenges within the Naga movement itself. A prominent threat to Naga solidarity comes from within, with armed cadres divided into factions and a civil society growing discontented with a lack of transparency and accountability . The movement is also fundamentally a clash of systems, a forced conversion of traditionally autonomous, stateless Zomia societies into the rigid structure of a modern Westphalian state, a process that has created inherent socio-political tensions .
The Indian state's response to these movements has been overwhelmingly coercive, marked by heavy military deployments and the use of stringent laws like the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) to suppress dissent . This approach, while bringing temporary order in some cases, has intensified resentment and perpetuated cycles of violence . Furthermore, under the current BJP-led government, a Hindutva-driven agenda has further sidelined minorities, and the use of harsh laws has made political resolution increasingly elusive . International watchdogs have taken note, with some now categorizing India as a "flawed democracy," citing a steady erosion of civil liberties and democratic norms .