Seven things Modi did differently to crack peace deal with Naga rebel group

1. In August 2014, the Prime Minister's Office overruled a suggestion of the home ministry and appointed RN Ravi, chairman of joint intelligence committee (JIC), as the interlocutor for Naga peace talks. Home minister Rajnath Singh had recommended the name of Ajit Lal, who had retired as chairman of JIC in July 2014, as the interlocutor. In the past, former governor Swaraj Kaushal, former Union minister Oscar Fernandes and former Union home secretary K Padmanabhaiah had acted as interlocutors.

2. Ravi was approached by the UPA government also to handle Naga talks but he had turned down the proposal. He agreed to Modi's request only after he was assured that he would be given a free hand and could work to a deadline. The initial deadline to crack a deal was November 2015. Ravi, a 1976 batch IPS officer from Kerala cadre, was chosen for his expertise in Northeast affairs. He retired as special director of Intelligence Bureau in 2012.

3. Unlike in the past, there was no round of talks this time. An office was set up at Vigyan Bhavan where Naga rebel leaders, civil society members and student groups could walk in to meet Ravi with just a prior intimation. This created an environment of confidence and cordiality. The government had entered into truce with the NSCN (IM) [National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah)] in 1997 and since then more than 80 rounds of talks have been held without a concrete outcome.

4. Ravi regularly mingled with all the stakeholders in this decades-long issue even without any formal engagement. Once he turned up at a function organised by student groups at Kohima. He did not allow security personnel to accompany him.

5. Ravi met not only Naga groups, but also the locals, intellectuals, journalists in all the disputed areas of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur and took note of their views before drafting the final framework of the deal.

6. Prime Minister Modi emphasised that in all past efforts by Union government there was a lack of personal touch. The Naga leaders often complained that they never got the dignity they deserved from Indian government. This time, the deal was not only signed at the prime minister's residence, he was seen personally engaging with T Muivah and both walked around holding hands.

7. When the NSCN chairman Isak Chishi Swu fell ill and was admitted to Fortis Hospital in Delhi, Ravi personally accompanied the rebel leader to hospital. On August 3, when the deal was signed, Swu's sign was taken in the morning at the hospital.