"I make a fervent appeal to all sections of Naga society to move forward with determination, conviction, and compassion towards reconciliation, unity, and oneness.
Let us send forth the strongest message of Naga solidarity, sounding a clarion call for the Naga family to come together, to unite, and to march forward as one." new NPF president and Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio said in his maiden presidential address of the regional outfit.
He also said:
"I look forward to your continued support and solidarity in the journey ahead.
Alone, I cannot succeed but together, with each one of you, we can realize our shared dreams and collective aspirations, we are always stronger together.
The chief minister said - "The successful completion of this merger, the triumph of unity, and the reaffirmation of our oneness, now scripts a new narrative for our people.
Let us articulate a vision and design an action plan that will propel our people, especially the younger generations, towards excellence and success not just within the region, but on the global stage.
Our collective aspiration must be to make Nagaland a truly developed State, where merit, fairness, and excellence are the only criteria.
"With faith in God and trust in our people, I accept this responsibility with humility, determination, and hope. Together, we will move forward-for our people, for our land, and for our future," he said.
For all practical purpose, Rio heads the NPF-BJP government.
The merger move could have been a typical local issue and none would have bothered.
But in 2017 - the NPF Youth Wing had organised a Beef Festival and even had invited a RSS nominee P B Acharya (then Governor of Nagaland) to attend the celebration.
Now that NDPP has 'merge' with the same NPF - it is obvious eyebrows will be raised.
On Sept 12, Chief Minister Rio (also a Naga Baptist) told his party colleagues that few weeks back he had discussed the issue of "merger" with PM Narendra Modi's trusted lieutenant and flamboyant Home Minister Amit Shah.
But Shah "did not respond".
But on Oct 15 (Wednesday), a meeting convened by the Chief Minister and also attended by BJP leaders endorsed the move for the merger.
But to the surprise of many -- the leaders in the meeting claimed and a formal resolution was adopted to state : "The House further extended its appreciation to the central leadership of the BJP for its guidance. support and positive decision in endorsing the inclusion of the NPF as a partner of the People's Democratic Alliance".
Some of the remarks could be nuanced. But it means for all practical purposes - the BJP is okay with the idea of the so-called merger of NDPP with the NPF.
Had it been the merger of NPF with the NDPP perhaps there would have been no compromise and controversy.
But the point is some new and old colleagues and advisors of Rio could be misleading him in their over enthusiasm.
Any political resolution actually need not make any such mention about BJP's endorsement.
Moreover, something happened in 2017. If the BJP central leadership today endorses the chief minister to take charge of NPF .... someone will seek an explanation from the saffron party central leadership that is Narendra Modi on its pledge vis-a-vis protection of Gau Mata.
The BJP since Modi became India's Prime Minister in 2014 have used the issue of beef-eating to further a Hindu nationalist agenda. The controversy has involved rhetoric, vigilante violence, and even discriminatory laws such as
ban on cow slaughter primarily affecting Muslims and Christians.
Modi has been under immense pressure including from overseas players to break his silence over incidents of attack on beef eaters.
In 2015, Mohammad Akhlaq, 50, was dragged from his home near the capital, Delhi, and beaten to death after rumours spread that he had eaten beef. His 22-year-old son was also severely injured.
At least eight were later arrested.
For Hindus, Cows are considered sacred in India, whose millions of Muslims and other minorities including Christians eat beef as the principal source of protein. India is also the world’s biggest exporter of buffalo meat.
Now the big picture debate is what transpired between August-September - when Amit Shah had remained silent and Oct 15th - that a resolution says the Hindutva party endorses the entry of NPF into the ruling alliance.
Firstly; whether Home Minister Shah has now conveyed his "positive response" in writing or in tele talk with chief minister Rio or someone else.
One also wonders whether no less than Narendra Modi himself has endorsed the merger move to include NPF in the alliance.
The fact remains it was NPF that had organised the beef festival in 2017... It is not the question of simple beef eating. It was a challenge to the Hindutva politics of the BJP and the RSS.
The Cow vigilante violence is a pattern of mob-based collective vigilante violence seen in India.
The attacks are perpetuated by "radical Hindu nationalists" or pretending to be against non-Hindus (mostly Muslims) to protect cows.
Since 2014, mob attacks have mostly targeted illegal cow smugglers, but in some cases even licensed cow traders, have become targets, various church bodies keep alleging from time to time.
Muslim Traders in Gujarat - the native state of PM Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah - claim the idea of Hindutva, in its fullest expression, could lead to undoing the constitution that endorsed secularism. mutual tolerance
and unravelling the fabric of liberal democracy.
In the context of the common (normal routine); it may be stated that the
evolution of the RSS has many facets. In more ways than one, the organisation founded in 1925 has evolved as a body of multi-dimensional patriotism, including civilisational nationalism.
And in these comes -- BJP's pledge for a ban on beef eating continues.
Sheer opportunism or just lip service to the Hindutva cause.
Will the real Bharatiya Janata Party come out of the shadows?
Mizoram, Na
galand and Meghalaya in the north east of India are three Christian
majority states. The BJP shares power in Nagaland since 2018 with its Naga legislator
Y Patton - a Baptist Naga - being the deputy chief minister.
The NDPP 's strength in the 60-member assembly has gone up to 34 and BJP has 12 members in the 60-member assembly.
ends
