We cannot blame our 60 honorable MLAs for the 15 minutes death Silence Session alone. Why?
When the state is facing innumerable issues in every sphere, the Law making body spending only 15 to 30 minutes to discuss the welfare of the people is ridiculous. An expensive car (NLA) without the braking system (Opposition) has become dodgy. They keep the car functional by starting the engine for 10 – 15 minutes once in every 6 months but they cannot go beyond that for obvious reasons. The usual platform sermons on peace and settlement are not able to quench the thirst or satisfy the hunger of the common Nagas.
We say that we have no fund for development and therefore, Delhi is responsible. But when you go to Delhi with a bouquet and the infamous Naga Waistcoat – you don’t dare to utter a word about the pathetic condition of the State and instead, take a SELFIE with the concerned Ministers and post it in the local media! In the street, you cannot utter a word because of fear of NPGs and in the NLA Assembly session, you do not dare to raise any issue for fear of “Show Cause Notice”. The public face multiple taxations and extortions in the street and in the government set-up, we face only corruption, deduction and commission.
With the election fever pitching up, I wonder what the Election manifesto of the political parties will be. Will it be the usual Honorable Naga Peace Settlement, Development, etc.? The usual boring issues of defection, resignation, declaration of support, etc., will fill the media again. Unfortunately, the same frustrated Nagas will eat their own vomit when the election comes. And that is why I say that we, the general public, are to be equally blamed.
Today, the common expressions amongst the Naga intellectuals are ‘What is the point – better keep quiet’, ‘Wait for the right time’, etc. Like the story of the frog in the cauldron, we are all getting accustomed to tolerating the ever increasing temperature of the corrupt system. We may think that the safest way for us is to remain complacent in our comfort zone. Is this the better option? The suffering and frustrations of the common Nagas have reached the boiling point and are in danger of rupturing anytime. Posterity will judge the stand that we take today – for better or for worse. Let us remember the famous quote of Napoleon – “The world suffers a lot. Not because of the violence of bad people. But because of the silence of good people”.
Why can’t we bring a change before it is too late? Our silence is not bringing any positive change in our society. To start with, why can’t we come together and set up a few honest and courageous candidates with impeccable integrity? Let us bypass the usual electioneering system of money power, bogus voters, vote buying, etc. and elect a few lawmakers (MLAs) who are even willing to sit in the opposition bench and be the voice of conscience for the common Nagas. It is possible because we, the Nagas, have enough good people to make an impact; after all it is up to us to decide our own fate.
Dr. Vetsutsoyi Swuro
Kohima
