Staff Reporter
Dimapur, August 25 (EMN): The public rally organised by ACAUT on Friday afternoon – already proclaimed as the ‘mother of all rallies’ by the organisers – served to provide a striking indication to outline the ACAUT’s journey thus far, and the path it is most like to take in the future.
In the absence of any hard and cold statistics, the public rally on Friday at Dimapur’s Supermarket proved to be the “perfect” barometer to assess the ACAUT’s journey thus far. While the tone of the rally – exemplified by highly-charged ventilation of public angst – remained the same, the measure of “achievement” of this anti-graft movement’s was reflected in how the point of reference of public angst had shifted.
When the first major ACAUT rally was held on October 31, 2013, at Dimapur’s iconic Clock Tower, the collective angst of that public gathering was directed at the “illegal taxation” collected by the various armed Naga political groups. Consequently, the gathering decided to adopt the now-famous ‘one government, one tax’ resolution that day.
Almost four years after that Clock Tower moment in 2013, the ACAUT rally at Supermarket on Friday was characterised by its shift from “illegal taxation” to corruption in the state – in the process, encapsulating the ACAUT’s journey thus far, as well as the seemingly endless hurdles that lie ahead for the anti-corruption movement.
While the shift in focus – from illegal taxation to corruption – might seem to suggest that the issue of taxation has somehow been brought under control, the fact that ACAUT has been left to tackle corruption in return, typifies one of English languages’ favourite clichés: out of the frying pan into the fire.
Another resolution from 2013 was the formation of a high powered committee to look into the non-governmental taxations. It was constituted and the findings submitted in 2015. However it is yet to be implemented by the government, but the day's resolution had no mention of it.
Eastern Mirror’s observation, on October 31, 2013, that the ACAUT rally at Clock Tower, Dimapur had the undertones of a Naga war-cry against multiple taxations was replicated literally on Friday even as the rally began by three Naga youth sounding the Naga war-cry. As stated, the tone remained unchanged, even as the focus shifted more towards corruption from taxation.
All the speakers who addressed the gathering – claimed to be 50 thousand people by the organisers – centred their speeches on the issue of corruption, a notable deviation from its first rally. But as was the case on that warm October morning in 2013, Khekiye K Sema was once again the crowd-puller for ACAUT.
Sema led the crowd’s chorus for a CBI inquiry (central investigation agencies) into numerous cases of corruption committed by the government of Nagaland, which was later adopted as one of the resolutions. Failure on the part of the state government to use the CBI would force the people to start “a strike” – not unlike the one announced during the ULB imbroglio – to “close and shut the government system”, the gathering agreed.
He also led the gathering’s call for the state legislators to call for a special assembly session to pass the Lokayukta bill in Nagaland, later adopted as a resolution.
Sema also stated that the government of India must “officially call” all the six NNPGs to be included in the Naga political solution, “as an independent entity and not as under the NSCN (IM)”. This, he stated, was the meaning of inclusiveness.
“Otherwise there will be a civil war in Nagaland. This is the message that must reach the government of India. This is a message that must reach the NSCN (IM)”, Sema said.
The presence of youth, who formed almost 80% of the crowd gathered on Friday, was also put in proper context. According to Sema, “You are the leaders of tomorrow. We are here to stand by you, but it is for you to fight”.
This was also echoed in one of the two poems to be read out on the occasion. Young college-girl Brooke Shitiri from Kohima, delivering a passionate poetry reading, had this message: At times I forget/How today was once tomorrow/And I will be yesterday again.
More than twenty other speakers/organisations addressed the rally. The overarching message to emerge out of all the speeches was to combat corruption.
1. The rally urges the government of India (GoI) to expedite the political process for early and lasting political solution to the protracted Naga political problem by inviting all Naga political groups without further delay. The rally also appreciates the coming together of Six NNPG’s for an inclusive dialogue with GoI.
2. The rally urges the GOI to remove the unconstitutional posts of Advisor and Parliamentary Secretaries in the state of Nagaland in terms of the honorable Supreme Court Judgment Dated 26-7-2017 passed in transferred case (Civil) No. 169/2006.
3. The rally resolved to demand from the state Government to summon a special session of Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) to pass the Lokayukta bill 2017, to check all forms corruptions, mismanagement and siphoning of public funds and immediately terminate all Back door appointments made post 6th June 2016 High court judgment. If the government of Nagaland fails to act on these demands before the end of September the public will call for all Nagaland bandh.
4. The rally resolved to urge the department of Roads and Bridges (R&B) to start maintenance and construction of roads and bridges in Nagaland with the funds already drawn by the department till date. The rally also resolved to fight against looting and mismanagement of public fund by developmental department till all the corrupted leaders and bureaucrats are booked and justice is delivered to the people.
5. The rally decided to reiterate the demand for free and fair inquiry by central investigation agencies to bring out the truth of siphoning of PDS items, fuel adulteration and other developmental funds.
6. The rally resolved to demand CBI inquiry into MKR Pillai’s case in disproportionate income and involvement in siphoning police modernization schemes and involvement in other fraud case committed by Nagaland cop turned Kerala billionaire.
7. The rally resolved to support the clean election movement spear headed by NBCC and other churches on the slogan “one man one vote” to choose the leader of my choice.
On a hot and humid day, a calm crowd – featuring the young and old – patiently endured the Dimapur temperature to settle themselves for ACAUT’s rally.
Students in their uniform right out of class, and middle-aged group, made their way to the Supermarket, the venue for ACAUT’s rally, straight from their workplace.
Enthusiastic students told Eastern Mirror: “We think there are many people whose genuine rights are taken away in our state and we believe we need to stand together and say that it is not acceptable. We are here today as an individual in solidarity for one common cause-against corruption”.
“Society becomes more significant when it consist of the entire community and when members of the community rally for a unified cause, the power grow to be unimpeded. The change that transpires through community participation for a common cause is greater than what an individual can achieve because this demonstrates the unity and approach that we have for a better society”, conveyed a group of young men in their traditional scarf and waistcoat.
“People of Nagaland are frustrated witnessing the corruption taking place in our state. By coming and working together, we can express and communicate our genuine disappointment. Together we can contribute beyond our individual demand. Participation is important and we all have something to contribute for the cause of ACAUT”, commented a former student who had come all the way from Mon district be part of the rally.
