An item which could not evade my attention was the news coverage over felicitation function in honour of the Hon’ble Chief Minister recently at Kohima. In the speech, the CM talked about Art 371(A) saying it ‘should not be an obstruction for any infrastructural development that takes place in the state’ as appeared in local papers on 22.6.14. I hope the CM has valid reasons to justify the contention. I wish I do not question the wisdom of the Head of the State. However, the statement has its share of ambiguity. It implies that Art 371(A) is roadblock to basic developments in the State of Nagaland. Does the CM believe that as much infrastructural developments in the State of Nagaland could not be had as desired because of this Article? Is he trying to pass the onus of poor infrastructure and developmental retrogress as compared to junior neighbour States to the presence of Article 371(A)? In what manner this Art is used and misused to obstruct the developments according to CM?
Meanwhile, even otherwise this special and protective Art 371(A) faces the most critical threats ever at the moment. Although the Art 371(A) escaped the onslaught of inclusion in BJP’s manifesto of 2014 for abrogation, when the same manifesto talks about uniformity in civil code, I strongly feel this provision is not immune to be dragged into debate. I am apprehensive when Art 370 is scrapped, the next victim may be Art 371(A) just as the adage goes ‘when autumn comes, will winter be far away?’ Topping upon it, we, the Nagas of Nagaland, have been battering this article in the name of debates on its importance even at inappropriate forums during the last few years. If BJP dares to displease the people of Jammu & Kashmir on the abrogation issue, will BJP hesitate to antagonise the citizens of Nagaland having a single MP each in two Houses of Parliament?
I presume the CM gave this comment with confidence and objectivity. The CM is required to come out with clarity as to how Art 371(A) remains to be the obstacle to infrastructural developments in Nagaland.
Z Lohe
