The Congress is a great national party which brought independence to India. It became the largest political force to rule India for the longest period in the post-independence era and also developed it in various fields. India owes Congress for its patriotism and historic contribution. It has brought tremendous achievements to India during its 60 years plus rule in both the industrial and agricultural sectors. In the Initial period, the Congress rule in Nagaland was honest. The elected leaders were loyal to the people and no corruption was ever known. We should ever appreciate the Congress for whatever sacrifice it had made towards the people of India and Nagaland. However, the Congress party rule transformed into a highly and systematically corrupt form later and failed the nation. We cannot blame the Congress for all the failures.There are some factors that led to its gradual and inevitable decline. Constant rampant corruption, scams, non-transparency, non-accountability, mismanagement of affairs, high life style and unfriendly VIP culture have attributed to its downfall. People lost confidence in the high handedness of Congress dynastic system. Corruption under the Congress rule was at the zenith. The richer became richer with unaccounted wealth and riches and the poor poorer. Various schemes and projects well designed to promote the poor and eradicate poverty ended up in widening gap between the haves and have-nots.The worst is that it has transformed India into one of the most corrupt nations of the world (as per the Corruption Perception Index). Precisely, these have been the conditions and circumstances which made people groan for a better social change. It would be hard for people to come back and support the same old leaders and the party they had already left even if the Congress or its off shoot leaders try hard to turn people against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). It was a great blunder that Congress had played politics of losing supporters. It failed to understand the mood of the people. It is noticeable that people want new visionary, talented leaders and new party. The Congress is solely responsible for its poll debacle and not because the BJP has emerged in the national political arena. The people of India have repaid what it has paid to them. There is a season for everything and now is the season for the BJP to nurture its fields and reap the fruit.
BJP is a national political party which is ruling at the center and 13 states of India. People have accepted the BJP because it is found to be people oriented, competent, visionary and pro poor with political will to transform the society. The deplorable social conditions in India on the eve of BJP rule cannot be ignored all together. BJP came as one of the alternative parties to INC or the Congress and people of India have considered it as the best substitute. If BJP had not emerged there might be another party to take the place as people had determined to punish and oust the Congress. People have chosen pro poor programs and all round development by electing the BJP to power and not a mere political party.The blame for every communal act by Hindu fanatics is thrown on the BJP or Narendra Modi or the NDA government. However, the BJP as a political party or the NDA as coalition government or Modi as the PM has nothing to do with communal activities. And if there is any allegation against the same should be supported with proof and evidence.If anyone is inciting communal disharmonyat an individual capacity, the party or government should not be held responsible. India has a strong and matured judiciary system.Let the law take its own course of action. Advocating BJP does not mean betraying or leaving Christian faith.Nor does it mean being irreligious or non-religious for Christians.The faith and loyalty to be true Christians lie in our hearts and not in supporting or going against a political party. It is peoples’ resolution andmandate to achieve economic independence which is referred to as second independence. Nagaland is at the mercy of central government for fund and PDS items and inclined towards a national political party which rules at the center.Time, opinion and choice of people also change alongside.
India is a matured and vibrant democratic nation and the level of expectation from its people have always been high.So it is natural that they would desire to electleaderswho are more competent and selflessly committed to the people. And by doing so distrusted leaders and their parties are voted out.India has a multi- party system and parties will come andgo at both the center and the states and no party will ever rule India for a century. Since Nagaland is a federal state of the union of India it is bound to be constitutionally administrated within the system.
Our fellow Christian leaders areexpected to act with maturity while dealing withcommunal unrest and not publicly react on mere concoction purported by dissidence. Theyshould properly verify the allegation in case of any discrimination and violation of rights against minority community and take up the matter with the apex authority supported with proof and evidence. If top BJP party leaders could be booked under the law, then any one can be under the law. Persons who are falsely spreading hatred massage to create communal tension or gain political mile age too can be awarded penalty. We should stand for truth. It is a matter for all of us to pay attention and ponder over and introspect as to why Nagaland is one of the most corrupt states in India with 95% Christian population. Cannot we tell more truth and become less corrupt? How can we be true Christians when we are more corrupt than others? Christianity has preached mankind to live with truth, love, humility, peace and harmony and not with corruption, falsification, fornication, arrogance and pride. Corruption is a social evil and has no religion. Christians should learn from a Hindu PM of India who is toiling day and night to eliminate corruption, install good governance, initiate all round development and eradicate poverty. These are some tasks which a Christian state like Nagaland should have been performing since long back.
Sd/-
K. Thong (Achilo)
