Manipur Mosaic : Lesson on Political Stability from Nagaland
All eyes will be on NDPP general convention either later this month or first week of March, 2025
Can Naga CM Neiphiu Rio write himself in pages of history during party convention ?
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| Neiphiu Rio can he do it ? Another big occasion ? |
From BJP's and Narendra Modi's perspective one Double Engine Government collapsed. The pilot that is N Biren Singh had to bow out from the cockpit. There are more reasons than one for the same. There are also multiple lessons to learn about.
The political class can take the lesson as per their convenience. The writ of the government had weakened in Imphal and Kangaroo courts had started emerging. In January this year one rape victim did not go to Biren Singh's police. There were several other instances. MLAs were summoned by some unconstitutional bodies.
In short and in the ultimate; Manipur has landed into President's Rule. This implies political instability. This menace was typically well known in the north east.
Even Nagaland witnessed political instability time and again. In 1990; K L Chishi became Chief Minister for less than a month. Regionalist stalwart Vamuzo was in power for a considerable period but as many as 15 MLAs were disqualified by the then Speaker Thenucho over charge of defection.
Hence if political stability is guaranteed in Nagaland of 2025 - the man in charge of the show Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio deserves his due credit.
The NDPP-BJP government is also about the BJP as a political party as the saffron party is part of the ruling dispensation jn Kohima since 2018. Neiphiu Rio has done the right balancing notwithstanding repeated campaign and even unfounded allegations that churches will be attacked once the BJP pushes its Hindutva agenda.
In 2024, a Congress-inspired Shankaracharya tried to spoil the show in Nagaland but the matter was effectively and with elegantly handled.
Nagaland's main challenge is political -- that is the Naga peace talks. That is there is an ever lasting tussle between the Status Quo Club and pro-Solution.
On Feb 18th, Tuesday, representatives of various Naga tribes came together in "solidarity to express" in one accord the urgent necessity for all Naga Political Groups to come together in unity and cooperation.
The statement from the organisers said - "We recognize and appreciate the constructive steps taken through the January 14, 2025 Treatise. Therefore, in cognizance of this significant breakthrough, the representatives resolve:
** -- 1. Naga Political Groups must listen to the voice of the people and without exception all efforts must be taken to ensure Naga unity in the spirit of oneness.
** To actualize Naga unity and reconciliation, the January 14, 2025 Treatise must be implemented with immediate effect. All Naga Political Groups and Naga People are urged to be part of the Council of Naga Cooperation and Relationship.
The Naga public will hold to account any Naga Political Group and civil society organization responsible for its failure.
***
To consciously harness and consolidate Naga solidarity by fostering kindred spirit without borders towards the fulfillment of Naga aspirations.
This is a landmark statement or a 'A Public Declaration' has stated in more ways than one. Although it mentions the Jan 14th, 2025 statement or Treatise wherein controversial phrases were put in.
The Jan 14th statement said: "We recognize that the Naga ancestral territories and Peoplehood cuts across all artificial boundaries, and we will continue to safeguard and protect these inalienable rights together as a people".
As the mandarins and official agencies interpret things often. This 'statement or Treatise' was not taken lightly in some quarters. Of course they have their own argument.
However, now everybody is speaking sense and laying emphasis on the 'unity of purpose'.
This is certainly to be welcomed.
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| Kitovi and R N Ravi : 2017 Agreed Position architects |
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| Amit Shah and Team Rio : Need to be on same page !! |
A few NNPG leaders are speaking out openly. Alezo Venuh, Ato Kilonser of NSCN-Unification, has rightly said:
"We have to be practical .....". He also was candid in stating -
"One can claim moon and star .... but unless you achieve it, it is just kind of a fairy tale story. So I think we have to be very practical."
Hence, he also admits - "hundred per cent sovereignty is not achievable".
This -- all stakeholders must appreciate.
This blogger had interviewed NSCN-U president Neokpao Konyak, who is also the new convener of the NNPG (they are shouldering).
He lamented that : "The fact that Agreed Position mentions Naga right to self determination, history and identity and pays due respect to political realities of today, is something elite class of Naga society has failed to grasp or deliberately doing so".
"Whether it's Naga tribal color at work or the one organisation and few CSOs trying hard to blur the Agreed Position with wholesome praise for Framework Agreement is something Nagas need to carefully analyse.," he said.
These bring us back to square one. That means the elected Nagaland Government in Kohima will have to play a role.
A few days back N Kitovi Zhimomi said --- The state politicians have lately started saying that they would 'pave the way if Solution comes'.
Only Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio can set the record straight.
Here comes the relevance of the NDPP convention.
It is a suitable platform for the Chief Minister to make a political statement. His party cadres would be prepared to face the 'reality' and eventually come out of the 'confusion' everyone is.
On Feb 16, 2022 campaigning for NPF candidates at Senapati (for Manipur state polls), Rio had said:
".... now that the Naga movement has already achieved "partial success", a Final Peace Agreement should be signed at the earliest.
"Let the pending issues be discussed in future......time to sign a peace pact for whatever 80 percent of issues, those agreed upon".
Time he walks the talk. Miracles may await everyone.
ends
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