TODAY we are living in a very critical time when we need the right kind of politics to address the issues and problems facing our society. The political consciousness of every Naga needs to be awakened, not only for better governance and politics at the state level but also and more importantly for finding a way to pursue our national aspiration. We must restore and put politics in its rightful place in order to harness its power to serve the common interest of our people.
Whether we like it or not the creation of Nagaland state is a reality today and it cannot be wished away. Though all of us cannot be full time national workers, we all have a role to play as responsible and patriotic Nagas towards finding an honourable and acceptable solution to our political struggle. There is a place for each one of us in politics and we cannot afford to ignore this fact anymore. The remark of A. Kevichusa when statehood was given to Nagaland is noteworthy: “Let us try to make the best use of the bad bargain”. It was in this spirit and vision that the first regional political party in Nagaland and the entire North East Region was born, the Democratic Party of Nagaland. However it ought to be noted that the priority of the regional party in Nagaland was not to enjoy power or to rule the people. On the contrary, the founders of Democratic Party of Nagaland decided to fight for the cause of our people in a democratically through non-violence with the motto: FIDE NON ARMIS, meaning “By faith, not by arms” which is still the motto of NPF.
Against this backdrop, the difference between the two broad political parties in Nagaland can be clearly brought out. The congress, including its forerunner NNO (Naga National Organization), has always worked against the Naga national issue. They joined the Indian media and intelligentsia in propagating that Phizo and NNC were misleading the Naga people, that they were rebels and the misguided. It has always been their motive to form the government to finish or dismiss the Naga national movement, their sole motive being to enjoy power. In contrast, the regional party never joined the state politics to run the government, motive not for enjoying power but their primary aim is to solve the Indo-Naga issue. Let me spell out the first aim and objective of NPF, for instance:
“To work and assist in any possible manner on any approach for a peaceful solution of the Indo-Naga political issue.”
The regional party has never projected itself as the champion of the Naga national issue but has always worked to pave the way or to assist in solving the Indo-Naga political issue. As such, it was always prepared to sacrifice its interests for the sake of the greater interest of the Naga people. It not only resigned en masse, but also dissolved the party, for instance, in 1964 to pave the way for peace talk. Again in 1998, in response to the call of the Naga public, it boycotted the general election on the slogan “solution, not election”.
After boycotting the 1998 general election, the congress was in power with absolute majority where 59 out of the total 60 were congressmen. Mr. Mavil Khieya was the lone independent MLA then. The regional party was in a very bad shape. In 1999, Dr. Shurhozelie Liezietsu had to resign from the party, including his presidential post and contest the parliamentary election as an independent candidate. When Congress was at its peak in the state politics serious differences arose with Mr. Jamir on the publication of the BEDROCK OF NAGA SOCIETY. Mr. Neiphiu Rio, the then Home Minister, resigned and along with his friends decided to work together under the banner of the regional party resulting in the formation of the NPF. Mr. Vizol was elected as the President and I was also elected as one of the two Working Presidents. NPF succeeded in forming the government in 2003 under the leadership of Mr. Rio. Rio, the Chief Minister and I as the Home Minister worked closely together to bring about peace and reconciliation and normalcy was restored in our state.
The NPF has failed miserably to live up to expectations as the party has ceased to be subservient to the interest of the Nagas. It has failed to respect the will and mandate of the people by suspending the elected representatives and also ignored the voice of the majority of the elected representatives within the party. In the functioning of major political parties, suspension is used as a tool to keep party workers in check. However it appears that the NPF under Dr. Shurhozelie as its President has developed the habit of suspending the democratically elected MLAs and even the lone MP in total disregard to the will and wishes of the people to whom they represent. And if that is not enough, the NPF has become a political party of contradictions. While 3 NCP MLAs who merged with the BJP were unceremoniously disqualified, the 8 Congress MLAs who joined NPF were whole-heartedly welcomed. A tacit understanding appears to exist between the present NPF leaders and the Congress party. On the one hand if the NPF is ready to welcome any elected member to its party without their acceptance of its Party constitution or ideology, on the other hand it is ready to suspend members from the party who are working hard for the party ideology and the Naga national cause. If we all recall, at an event, before the gathering of thousands of party workers, the President of NPF announced reconciliation amongst themselves, the background of which is not unfamiliar with any of us. However, despite this official and public announcement, the president and his colleagues are working to increase the line of division within its own party and continuing to discriminate and marginalize those who do not always share the same view with the President. Though the party is calling for peace and reconciliation, it seems to be doing everything that goes against the spirit of peace and reconciliation, integrity and unity of our people.
In my opinion, the NPF has compromised with its original commitments and principles to work for the Nagas. By using suspension as a tool the NPF has undermined the right of the electorates in the state of Nagaland. The Indo-Naga peace process is also in danger of being derailed. The action of the NPF in suspending Mr. Rio, MP the sole spokesman of Nagaland in the Lok Sabha is similar to what Jamir did to sabotage peace in 1963 when the Prime Minister of India, Nehru made a clear statement in the Lok Sabha on 19th March, 1963 that he was going to meet Phizo in India with one condition, “to stop violence in Nagaland” for finding a solution to the Indo-Naga Issue and Jamir strongly objected to the Prime Minister’s statement on 20th March, 1963 and wrote a letter to P. Shilu Ao, the Chief Executive Councillor on 22nd March, 1963 the contents of which is well known to all of us. Having noted all these, I however, leave the matter to the public to decide as to whether or not the NPF leaders are working for the interest of the Naga people.