NPF-DAN flirtatious, hollow, one sided and populist policies to serve and suit its own interest all these years in power is the root-causes of the present unwanted situation that prevails in our Nagaland. On top of it, its appeasement policy for gaining short-term political mileage always has now become a poisonous element which is creating far reaching political ramifications in the state.
1. It is an enthusiastically enunciated in the common minimun programme of Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) 2003 that the reason for the formation of the Allaince was to secure a negotiated settlement of Indo-Naga political problem acceptable to all sections of the society. Thus, after releasing of their common minimun programme on the 31st Junuary 2003, the DAN party began with a ‘big trumpet call’ in the election campaigns that its party meant business and thereby, did promise with a plomb to secure an honourable settlement of Naga political problem acceptable to the people within 3 months if voted to power. From then on, the tall promises of so on and so forth have been continuing till date to appease the Naga people.
After assuming of power, NPF-DAN party and government have time and again been introducing flirtatious and flip-flop policies towards our Naga political issue. Firstly, an offspring of its equi-closeness in the form of consultantive committee for peace has utterly failed on all fronts due to obvious reasons. In due course of time, after the burial of the consultative committee for peace, NPF-DAN party has again tactfully asserted and proclaimed to be an active and good facilitator, announcing from time to time of its readiness and willingness to demit office if so required to pave the way for final settlement of Naga political issue. Further more, at one point of time, it even went on to announce that peace talk with the NSCN (IM) by the government of India was moving in the right direction while at other time, expressed its total ignorance about the contentious issue by stating that the state governement is not privy to the peace talk. Yet contradictorily, it again has gratuitously declared to the government of India that NSCN (IM) was having linked with the Muslim terrorist organization just to keep the government of India in good humor and gesture.
On the state political front too, it has been alleging the congress party as anti-Naga and anti-people and on many occasions, had even questioned the moral authority and wisdom of the congress party for raising the Naga-political issue. But unfortunately on the other hand, for almost 10 years the NPF-DAN party have been deceiving the Naga people harping on solution ….. solution and solution without putting any sincere effort on its part while in fact, its ultimate objective is not solution but intended to remain in power only. Hence all those sugar coated sweet words like an active and good facilitator/ to demit office if so required are only pretentious utterances that holds no water. All those sweet words are empty sound only.
2. When the issue of Frontier Nagaland state has cropped up out of frustration and disillusionments by those aggrieved 6 tribes, the need of the hour was to win back their confidence for peace, unity and greater glory of the Nagas. Therefore, it was a bounden duty of the present day government to be serious enough to tackle the issue with all sincerity and outmost political maturity. Since the issue is a delicate one involving more 1/3 areas of Nagaland, it is seriously affecting the unity and integrity of the Nagas. As such immediate remedial measures has to be taken up in right earnest. But regretfully, the NPF-DAN government instead, has hastily issued an inflammatory and highly irresponsible statements that have hurted the sentiments of those aggrieved tribes beyond expression. Then at last, they (NPF-DAN) government as usual and casual as before, has initiated bureaucratic approach when a healing political approach to the issue was a required component. The demand for Frontier Nagaland state was a people’s movement spear headed by ENPO which is a very sensitive issue. But on the other hand, the NPF-DAN party have even tried to divide those concerned aggrieved people on party line by stating that out of 20 MLAs from ENPO areas, 14 MLAs are in the present ruling party which meant they are supporting the government. So if the eastern Naga people do not want the NPF-DAN government then, why did their 14 MLAs are with the ruling party was an irritating statement put forth before them. Therefore, such egotistical and other hazardous statements issued by the government of the day are factors responsible for distancing the ENPO.
3. Every sensible Naga including our JACWR knows that Nagas have a distinct and unique culture and traditions and for which special article 371 (A) has been provided to the state and its people to safe guard its interest which reads – no act of parliament in respect of (1) religions or social practice of the Nagas (2) Naga customary law and procedure (3) Administration of Civil and criminal justice involving the decisions according to Naga customary law (4) ownership and transfer of law and its resources, shall apply to the state of Nagaland unless the Legislative Assembly of Nagaland by a resolution so decides-
Therefore, in this connection, when the issue of 33% reservation of seats for women in municipal and town councils have come up, the congress being principal and responsible opposition party has categorically clarified its stand that the state government should not take a hasty decision while dealing with the issue because even the parliament has not pass any law as yet and the issue is only under scrutiny of various groups, social and political organizations all over India. Let such reservation be passed by parliament first, then only then, Nagaland Legislative Assembly should scrutinize its applicability in our land as per our social, religion and customary practices was the message by the congress party to the present day NPF-DAN government.
But unfortunately and regretfully, the way-ward NPF-DAN government has hastily passed the resolution for enacting the bill during 2006 to appease the women folks in the state without taking the different tribal hohos, political parties, NGOs, social thinkers and scholars etc for consultation.
In fact, many even including women themselves were not much inclined towards this reservation in politics, yet the fact remains that since the state Assembly itself has enacted the bill, our JACWR have every right to fight for implementation s of this reservation issue. But here, the hard fact that remains unanswered is - why did the present day government has been playing with the sentiments of the women folks for so long in the state? and for how long this government is going to take the people for a ride? It is high time, we and our society should rise up to the occasion and condemn the nefarious policy and decisions of the government which is creating division, social disharmony and social dispute in the state.
SEVOTSO SEYIE
PCC Member
