Thepfulhouvi Solo
[dropcap]I[/dropcap]ndia’s political ethic often practices favoritism: One is set on an exulted position first and is then regularized subsequently with pucca Documents. This discordant practice is unconscionable; it was practiced recently in the Centre in the appointment of one suave but failed person as a Minister, and another attractive looser in the Election, as a learned Minister.
The practice was also applied in the political settlement of Mizoram by discarding the elected Chief Minister and setting up an unelected Mizo National Front (MNF) Chief into the Chair.
Reportedly there is a suggestion in the Centre to replace the legitimately elected Chief Minister of Nagaland Mr.TR Zeliang and his Government by the IM Chairman Isak Chishi in a solution to the Naga Political Problem with the NSCN (IM) in the pattern of Mizoram.Isak would then get himself elected from one of Constituencies of Nagaland within 6 months. As of now, there is only one vacant Seat in Nagaland, the one former Chief Minister Neiphi Rio has vacated but rumors are already doing the rounds that several names are vying for seat.
Alternatively the authorities may make a BJP MLA resign from his seat for Isak Chishi. Unfortunately there is no sitting Sema BJP and no Congressman or Independent may like to sacrifice for a BJP Government. If a Konyak or a Lotha BJP Member is made to vacate his Seat, it will result in a very prayerful Sema representing a whole Konyak or Lotha Constituency but Isak would not be able to converse with his Konyak or Lotha Voters, in event of such a thing actually happening! The exercise would however be a political anomaly in Nagaland Context.
There may be one possible solution: Mr. Modi may hire ‘Rio Election Management Company’ for the job!
The Mizoram Pattern of political Settlement has such a scenario, anomalous as you and I may find for Nagaland.
a. Mizoram was a Union Territory of the 6th Schedule.
b. Nagaland has never been a Union Territory.
a.The Trouble in Mizoram was basically Economic in Origin long after Indian Independence.
b.The Naga Case is Political, Pre-India Independence from British India days with long political history continuing to date since 1929.
a.The MNF Problem was confined to the Mizoram only.
b.The Naga Case has implications far outside Nagaland.
a.The Mizo Problem was confined to one Territory, one People and one Tongue.
b. The Nagas Case is wide spread involving different Territories, different Tribes and different Languages.
a. Mizoram and the Centre were under the same Congress Government.
b. Nagaland and Centre are under different political dispensation.
Nagaland and Mizoram Cases cannot be taken the same.
When Mizoram Settlement was made, the Mizos were not divided into different MNF Groups; the single Mizo National Front enjoyed the Goodwill and Sympathy completely of all Mizos. The MNF never posed threat to the Civilians, they never killed each other; they did not involve in Terrorist activities.
In consideration of the MNF suffering in the jungles for a long time for all Mizos, the Over-Ground majority accepted the GoI’s proposal for the Elected Representatives to vacate the Power for the MNF.
The condition in Nagaland is not so: The NSCN is divided into several ill-defined warring Groups and Factions. The Civilian population is in fear of all the Groups of NSCN, particularly the most ferociously armed NSCN (IM). They confine themselves mostly to their designated Camps, and if sojourning quietly in the civilian Areas; they are afraid to come out in the open without Arms hidden inside their clothes or inside their vehicles. They are nervous in the open public and the Public fear their violent Tactics, Demands, Taxations, Extortions, Abductions for Ransoms and frequent threats. The Groups and Factions are nowhere near enjoying the Goodwill or Sympathy of the civil population in Nagaland.
The most damning point from democratic point of view about the IM however is: it is controlled by a small minority of Naga of one Tribe from outside Nagaland: An armed, even minor functionary from the Tribe, quite often, is the Power Centre over even his higher ups in the Pack. The litany of instances of public sufferings at the hands of the Group is unending.
To end an endless story: let Khaplang make Agreements with the Authorities in Myanmar for the best Interest of the Nagas there; may God bless him. And now that he is silent on Integration or on Sovereignty, leave Muivah to make Alternative Arrangement with Centre for the best Interest of the Manipur Nagas: Very good, may God bless him till the day in God’s good time.
If the Government of India sacrifices the majority of Nagaland for political settlement with the NSCN IM covering Nagaland, the Nagas of Nagaland would not accept anything short of the Special constitutional provision they already have in Article 371A.
Is there no one Sage, with white political hair of discernment, in this vast ancient Land of India?
Let me add the words of an Indo-Naga political Observer:
“It is strange irony that when initially the Naga Issue was a political Problem, the Government of India tried to treat it as a Law and Order Problem; and now, when the Issue with the Naga Factions is a Law and Order Problem, it is being treated as a Political One!”
