Three individuals with different backgrounds agreed to discuss and debate the issue at a closed door meeting recently. But given their candid observations and frank outbursts; it was later decided that we should not share their identities.
Hence we are keeping things anonymous -- participants were --- one, a social activist following Naga matters intensely
Second, a retired Govt of India official - who is aware of the issues involved.
And third a fulltime Naga politician
Participant A :::
Ordinary people think politicians have plans until suddenly everyone realises that they haven’t a clue. Perhaps something like this happened. Or there was deliberate 'derailment' attempts and sabotage vis-s-vis the final Solution.
Participant B -- A Govt of India (retired individual) :
One might have distinct memories of that : there was a sense of Hope but also Confusion.
First 'confusion' was the roadmap was not clear. The 1998 assembly election was boycotted by all parties including BJP and then a principal opposition party NPC. Today, NPC is NPF. The BJP is in power in Kohima and New Delhi but what about the clearer roadmap? Is it ready to walk on ?
Participant C :::: Naga politician :
You may have your opinion. But we could find even the Govt of India was not clear as a matter of policy. Confusion may be a mild word.
One group of people and even underground leaders felt they were talking about facts. But there were others - more vocal and they were talking about their anger and frustration.
There was no practical approach. It was not realised that certain demands were easy to ask ... like 'Naga unity'. People joining one mainstream state without 'land' was never thought of.
This was one kind of immaturity but this was the fact.
Participant A :: Confusion only increased by the day. The defeat of Congress in 2003 and the emergence of NPF-headed government again raised hopes.
The level of confusion, I can tell you ... I remember a friend joking that he was sleeping with the window closed and doors open....
He was extra cautious about something, some one should not hurl stones; but did not realise the door had been kept open. When doors are open; you not only welcome your own people, you are also inviting your enemies ...
Moreover, you may not know; how and when he would come with arms. bombs, whether as a drug addict or a saint .... ?
Participant B:
Slowly, we realised some old problems have surfaced again. From Delhi, we could see - the base form of tribalism working. The Meitei-Naga conflict in 2000 was most unfortunate thing but it happened and everyone had to be blamed.
Participant C ::
Two or more people often started saying the 'same thing' and the good thing.
Everyone started saying, we need peace and we need development. The 2003 election was important. The Congress was ousted. The BJP won seven MLAs ... but the saffron party did not plan it well. They left regionalists to run the show not only because of higher numbers but also the make-shift manner.
The issues of good governance and corruption were never considered.
The BJP high command should have conditioned their support and made Hokishe Sema chief minister.
The BJP has been doing/making mistakes. Trusting wrong partners. It was repeated in 2018 and 2023 was the worst calculation.
Participant A :
Oh ya .... 2023 elections ... the BJP scored a self goal and in the process; they defeated and divided the Naga people. The 'eastern areas' were given some promises.
The NDPP made it worse by 2025 and went for a so-called merger. It was like a business deal. The NPF leaders were too weak to resist the influence of power games. 'Cock' .... was it for auction ? Everyone will have to be made accountable.
But (smiles) things have come a full circle. Today, BJP is not happy with NPF and some players in the NPF are clueless on how to work on a futuristic formula with the BJP. At least another round of merger cannot come.
I find it the saving grace for Nagas.
Participant B :
So, as you so shall you reap. Why blame someone 'outside' the system ? And, believe me ..... New Delhi is loving it !
Participant C :
Let me come here; certain things must be mentioned. What really struck me or many people like me ... that those in the supposedly know of things had no clue what they were going to do ... or what they were saying. Slowly, business like approach came into political matters.
People were striking deals, cash deals, land deals etc etc ... Once people used to joke - we want Naga version of communism .... but in 2026, what we have is our unique dimension of Naga Capitalism.
"Khabi Na ... Khabo lagey toh" is the new mantra.
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| Pfutsero town |
Participant A :
Frustration is no answer to the problem. If these negative aspects are to prevail; we need not have a debate. The truth of the matter is the Naga issue is a political issue.
We cannot run away from it. Even New Delhi should not try to run away from it... But politics has changed over the years -- last 29 years for Nagas and especially last 12 years for India ---- today Naga political matter involves highly technical decisions, we have to understand these properly.
Participant B ::: At times, I feel I really may blame only one or two persons.
But is that so ? Can I ask some hard questions? Is the society ready or keen for a Solution ? Or the society itself is enjoying this 'free-for-all' dispensation ? Is this system the best option ...
If not; why there is no general sense of anguish yet ? Why allowing the present system to continue ?
Participant C :
No one is in favour of giving a blank cheque to the present system. The Naga issue and Peace and Solution are interlinked to general improvement of things around us in the north east... An early and successful Solution to Naga issue will have positive impact in Manipur and also make PM Narendra Modi's Act East Policy more result oriented.
It is sad, a youth rally or more such gatherings are being sabotaged.
The Solution is actually about the future of entire region and our people.
Participant A :
Can I have the final words? Someone misled the experts and authorities in Delhi that implementation of Solution before resolution to ethnic war in Manipur will become bloody in the region.
Manipur issues are mostly ST privilege issues and internal ethnic and territorial conflicts. In these, New Delhi or the BJP is also a vested interested party. Nagaland is a political issue yet to be addressed effectively by Delhi.
If Naga issue is resolved political and insurgency problem in the region can be phased out; we will have solved many problems.
Your bosses in Delhi must appreciate that all issues in this region are in one way or the other connected with the protracted political conflicts
(text - by Nirendra Dev/blogger)
ends
I may not subscribe to many things in this blog. But Hokishe Sema as chief minister in 2003 would have had a salutary effect. Nagas lost a golden opportunity. -- Arindam Sen, Dibrugarh, Assam
ReplyDeleteA Captain is as good as his team. Since 2003, Nagaland did not have eithrr. - Tali Ao, Shillong
ReplyDeleteI strongly believe Nagas don't want any solutions but they want that confusions should remain in eternity as they know one group or other groups will be discarded & only option to blame GoI for their failures.Nagas cannot come together for real solutions but only blame others.😭😭😭 - Mr Vidhan, Vrindavan
ReplyDelete