Who says there's no money - Question should haunt Team Rio !

Who says there's no money - Question should haunt Team Rio !

 A fallen reputation is always difficult to recover

New Delhi

Former Nagaland Chief Minister K L Chishi knew the art of handling tough questions in his own characteristic style.

As Finance Minister under S C Jamir in 1993 and 1994; he would often say - "Who says there is no money". His argument used to be -- "If I say there is no money ... it will be admission of fact about fund crunch and both I and the Chief Minister will be blamed. And if I say, there is money; all and sundry would make a beeline for quick payments and there will be other issues too".

The fact of the matter was that 'bad times' of the Naga economy had started when the IXth Finance Commission under a Congress leader N K P Salve changed the funding pattern. This was prior to 1993.

The Modi-era was ages away !

Now, things seemed to have made a cyclic journey and we may ask Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and his 'bitter rival-turned-Deputy' T R Zeliang -- "Who says there is no money",

Very few Nagas have good business acumen. In the 1990s we believed S C Jamir has (had) it.

But he has been a hardcore political creature all along and some 'business' he understood was

confined to handling departments such as Civil Supply.

But Rio understands business better -- is a statement that goes rather without stating. His voters

also know that and if the politics of 2024 is something to analyse -- probably Congress MP Supongmeren Jamir

also agrees.

There is an argument that because NDPP did not spend 'enough' money; Supong made an easy walk to

Parliament.

The press conference by Union Minister for DoNER, Jyotiraditya Scindia at Dimapur on Nov 14

was an eye-opener. And hence the second important question -- "Where has the money gone...

(Paisa ahisey ... toh kot jaisey"). 

Team Rio has many wise advisors and that includes veteran Chingwang Konyak too. Chingwang hails from eastern Nagaland and the region wants FNT with financial autonomy. We may get some

intellectual response very soon !

Nevertheless, the figures of last 10 years is mind boggling.

 Scindia highlighted that Nagaland has received Rs 64,768 crore over the last decade, double the amount 

provided in the previous ten years. 

Last 10 years means -- we can take the clock to Nov-Dec 2014. T R Zeliang was the Chief

Minister for a considerable period and from March 2018, it's Rio and his administration and business.

The Union Minister also said - in the previous 10 years (that is between 2004 and 2014 -- the amount

was Rs 37,000 crore. Here again Rio was CM till he came to Lok Sabha.

From May 24, 2014, T R Zeliang was CM till Feb 20, 2017. Shurhozelie was there for a very brief

spell.

Hence to pursue further in this article we may take shelter of three interesting quotes as guiding

themes.

One - An apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

Secondly, lips may be sealed but pens (especially of media people) should not !

And thirdly, -- Worst poison on this whole damn planet is Guilt or even the total absence of it.

Scindia further said in addition to these allocations, as special assistance, 50-year interest-free loans, 

Nagaland has received a total of Rs 2,290 crore as a special dispensation from the Centre.

Under various other heads including Sports and Railways as well, central Govt's money has reached 

Nagaland. 

So, coming back to the first question -- originally asked by Chishi - "Who says there is no money".

We may not get an answer easily to a few complex questions.

But one small word/sentence of wisdom can be shared

A public leader or a CM and his Deputy CM and others need to earn public’s respect and goodwill 

through their performance while in office. That's the legacy. Money need not buy that.

 A fallen reputation is always very difficult to recover. 

ends