Issues confronting the NPF-change or perish

The disintegration of the Naga People‘s Front is a particularly intriguing phenomenon because it stayed in power for more than a decade and still to this day. It is worthy of attention after the fragmentation and the numerous issues that continue to trouble the party. Times change and with change come paradoxes. The NPF party has rarely been this unpopular. The party self-destructed because of the evil intention of some party leaders within. The stripping off of Imkong I. imchen from membership of NPF party, the show cause notice to current LS MP Neiphiu Rio(founder member of NPF) was indeed a sharp contrast to the talk of reconciliation within NPF. According to my understanding, “reconciliation” would mean re-establishing friendly relations and be accommodative. Notable about the peace makings in the final round of conflict is the fact that the party president called for a reconciliation meeting on the 30th of April 2015 whereby he declared total reconciliation in front of more than 4000 party leaders/workers. The desperate attempt to bring the already split-NPF-party together proved success when the dissident MLAs joined the reconciliation call without any conditions. However, as we all know nothing sort of reconciliation took place. We don’t see how total reconciliation can be achieved if the president is also one sided. Whatever is their intention, I care not but the welfare and future of the party cannot be compromised at any cost. It is in the interest of the party president to conciliate the discontentment of his party workers. What motives could influence the respected president I know not; but I sincerely wish that, our party president had more fully consider the real interest of the party first and everything else second. Having said that, it was awfully worrying and wrong of a party president to have shown the lenity (by not asking him to step down) to a man who lied about his educational qualification and fooled the people whom he serve. Secondly, by welcoming the eight Congress MLA to the party the hon’ble president had disgraced his reign. The eight MLAs have nothing to lose but the NPF party loyalist had to bear the loss. What about those NPF candidates who lost the last election to them? What about their supporters? Now they are in the “Ruling Opposition”. However, you have not yet totally lost the affection of the party workers and I think the esteem of the party workers is worth preserving. Insult to injustice may prove dangerous and the storm which is destroying the party must not be irretrievable. The party must open its closed doors to wind of change. It must make a fresh effort to forge fresh links with the entire NPF loyalists. It must seek to induce amongst the ordinary people a feeling of confidence that we are a party which seeks to serve the people. Yet, whatever be the fate of NPF, I as a NPF loyalist, I’m satisfied with the part I’ve taken. They are the undisguised sentiments of an honest heart, and carry in their rectitude of their wisdom, a sufficient apology for their rudeness. Lastly, coming to the more important issue is the future of Nagas. Ironically, the CM admitted that he had not seen the contents of the Accord. Does that mean he and his cabinet colleagues are supporting the Accord just to please their Godfathers and stay in power? Supporting the Accord blindly by giving their consent is nothing but and an act of foolishness and immature leadership. Do they even care for the future of Nagaland? I seriously doubt. For once and for all the CM must act to demonstrate the honesty and integrity of the legislators by dissolving the Parliamentary Working Committee first and secondly the 12th NLA if they are truly honest with their approach and care for the people they represent- the Nagas in general. K.C. Naga Upper A.G. Colony Kohima.