Rahul Gandhi disqualified: What's the political fallout?

(A large section of voters and die-hard champions of Hindutva politics is also against kids-glove handling of issues like land scams against Robert Vadra and various corruption cases including 'the National Herald' case against Rahul and his mother Sonia Gandhi. 

In 'National Herald' case both mother-son duo are out on bail and if Dr Swamy's version is to be given importance, troubles will mount for the Congress leaders next month.)

New Delhi

The 'ecosystem' that generally thrives in reflected glories of Rahul Gandhi's fracas and flip flops will try to give a few odd spins to the latest political development in the country.

The Surat court has found the former Congress president 'guilty' of defaming the goodwill and reputation of an OBC community - the Modis. The law has taken its course as the court sentence was for two years jail term for Rahul and the Lok Sabha secretariat has declared him disqualified.

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"Consequent upon his conviction by the Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Surat...Rahul Gandhi, Member of Lok Sabha representing the Wayanad Parliamentary Constituency of Kerala stands disqualified from the membership of Lok Sabha from the date of his conviction i.e. 23 March, 2023," the notification read.

The spin doctors are busy ever since trying to generate the so-called victim card for their favourite folk hero. Never are they referring to the fact that Rahul has tried to degrade and put blame on an entire OBC community and compared them to 'thieves'.

"How come all thieves have Modi as the common surname?" Rahul had said during the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. Replace the surname 'Modi' with any dominant OBC or any other caste from north India; or a specific surname linked to a religious community -- then what happens. No intellectual wedded to political ideology of the 'ecosystem' or the so-called Sickularism gang would try to examine the issue objectively.

One spin that came out on Friday is when Rahul blasted the entire 'Modi community'-- there was a context to it. But on the same argument if there is a 'context', could someone target an entire community ? Dr Subramanian Swamy has merits in his argument when he compares Rahul's remarks as 'hate speech'.

Now, this is what the BJP line on the episode ought to be. The saffron party strategists have reasons to focus their campaign on two basic foundations -- first, Rahul had tried to target the entire OBC community and present them in poor light. And secondly that the protest as planned by Congress and other opposition

parties suggest the 'verdict' against Rahul is a government decision. This is far from the truth as due course of

law was followed and it is the court that has decided on the quantum of punishment. The opposition's

stance to question institutions like court(s) will simply backfire; and will be spurned by the common

people.

Moreover, those trying to sympathise with Rahul are also forgetting that such 'defamation' cases are

against him in various other courts across India. Nowhere has Rahul tendered apology or

has expressed regrets for his crude and unjustified remarks including against the nationalist organisation

such as the RSS. 

The Guwahati court has granted him bail in a defamation case filed by the RSS. The bail was granted on a bond of Rs 50,000 in September 2016. The case was filed after Rahul had misled that he was 'prevented' by the RSS from entering the Barpeta Satra in Assam in December 2015.

On July 4, 2019, Rahul was granted bail by a Mumbai court in a defamation case filed by a RSS worker. this case was filed for his remark linking activist Gauri Lankesh’s killing with the “BJP-RSS ideology”. 

Political pundits assessing the fallout of the court verdict and disqualification are trying to build mountains out of mole hills -- vis-a-vis the 'so called support' extended to him by parties such as AAP and Samajwadi Party. Of course, from time to time the leaders such as Akhilesh Yadav and Arvind Kejriwal have had issues with Congress party; but in broad sense all of them have done business together in the name of anti-Modi politics either in elections or in parliament.  

Of course, AAP has grown in states such as Delhi, Punjab and Gujarat at the expense of Congress; but in Rajya Sabha when ruckus was created by standing on the table --- AAP and Congress members were all together. Having said these, we must note that these 'supports' from non-BJP and non-Congress parties for Rahul would be only 'temporary' in nature and very soon the parties like AAP and Samajwadi Party will realise the futility of their moves. 

There is an unspoken fact of life. A large number of hardcore BJP supporters and Narendra Modi fans all these months and years had complained that the government of the day was 'soft pedaling' on issues concerning corruption charges against Rahul Gandhi and his brother in law Robert Vadra.

This section of voters and die-hard champions of Hindutva politics is also against kids-glove handling of issues like land scams against Robert Vadra and various corruption cases including 'the National Herald' case against Rahul and his mother Sonia Gandhi. In 'National Herald' case both mother-son duo are out on bail and if Dr Swamy's version is to be given importance, troubles will mount for the Congress leaders next month.

Finally, it is true time and again debates are generated about how the so-called communal and religious polarisation helps BJP or does not help it. The fact of the matter is signs of a strong government in Delhi under PM Modi will also galvanize unity among BJP footsoldiers. 

A large section of Modi admirers believe the incumbent Prime Minister is a man of words and he will certainly let the law take its own course vis-a-vis multiple corruption cases against Rahul Gandhi, Robert Vadra and several others. 

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Rahul episode -- a lesson, none is above law : BJP national Vice Prez Chuba ::::::: Rahul - 11th lawmaker to be disqualified since 2013

BJP national vice president M Chuba Ao on Saturday said that the hype created by the Congress and other opposition parties over Surat court order and subsequent disqualificationof Rahul Gandhi as a Lok Sabha member is "unwarranted and unwise".

"This is a real knee-jerk reaction and unwarranted and an unwise move by Congress and their friends. Rahul's disqualification is not a decision of the Modi government. It is under a due process of law. The root of the malady is defamatory words used by Shri Rahul Gandhi," Chuba Ao told this journalist.

Answering questions, Chuba said, "What has happened with Rahul Gandhi has happened with ten other leaders and lawmakers and MPs in the past...So why these kinds of hyped reactions". 

He said, "The Opposition parties should recall that in 2013 former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad was disqualified after Rahul Gandhi tore away the Ordinance in Delhi Press Club. In 2014, another former Chief Minister and a very popular leader J Jayalalitha was disqualified as an MLA in 2014.... So why blame the Modi government".

Chuba Ao, who hails from Nagaland, said, "Rather I look at things differently. The disqualification is certainly a setback to Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party but, even more important, it should give a message to all public leaders including all of us in the public life that one must be careful in making public speeches....".

"Getting excited during an election speech does not mean I have the licence to defame any community or individual leaders".

There have been problems with Rahul Gandhi, he said. "Rahul Gandhi has declined to learn any lesson. He faces as many as seven defamation cases and there are bail orders. That means he is a serial offender. No one is above law and my suggestion to Congress party is that they should respect this basic theory in politics".

Chuba Ao pointed out that before Rahul Gandhi two Lok Sabha members who were disqualified were Lalu Prasad of RJD in September 2013 and P P Mohammed Faizal of NCP from Lakshwadweep in January this year.

(Union Minister and BJP leader Anurag Thakur says, there was perhaps
a 'conspiracy' within Congress as maybe some leaders wanted to get rid of him.)

New Delhi 

Since September 2013, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is the 11th person to have lost
membership as a lawmaker and is the third Lok Sabha MP to get the severe punishment following court orders.

Before him two Lok Sabha members who were disqualified were Lalu Prasad of RJD in September 2013 and P P Mohammed Faizal of NCP from Lakshwadweep in January this year. For Lalu the case was related to Bihar's infamous fodder scam while Faizal lost the membership as court pronounced verdict against him in connection to an attempt to murder case.

Others in the list include former Tamil Nadu chief minister and the late chief of AIADMK, Ms J Jayalalitha.

She lost her membership as MLA of Bodinayakkanur in Tamil Nadu in the disproportionate assets case

in September 2014. 

Azam Khan of Samajwadi Party also lost his Rampur assembly seat in Uttar Pradesh after he was convicted by a court

of law for a 'hate speech' in October 2022.

Among others who lost their membership include Kuldeep Singh Sengar - Rape charge in February 2020, Pradeep Chaudhary (Congress MLA in Haryana) on charge of 'assault' in January 2021 and Abdullah Azam Khan (Samajwadi) for attack on CRPF camp in February 2023.

Other such legislators who lost membership included Anant Singh, Vikram Singh Saini and Anil Kumar Sahni.

Union Minister Anurag Singh Thakur says that Congress leader Rahul needs to understand the ‘well-planned conspiracy' within the Congress to ‘get rid of’ him by not challenging the Surat court's verdict on time despite having a battery of lawyers in the party.

"Ek sochi samjhi saazish...," he remarked on Friday. "Who hatched this conspiracy in the Congress party, Rahulji it is for you to understand this".

"One should go into details and deep on this. Who are they who wanted to get rid of Rahul Gandhi

The Congress party has a battery of lawyers....is there not a single person and lawyer who could

have advised correctly (to challenge the Surat court order)," Mr Thakur told reporters.

Blasting at Rahul Gandhi, the Union Minister said, "I can say he is the epitome of unparliamentary

behaviour".

Mr Thakur also pointed out that Rahul Gandhi has been indulging in making defamatory charges rather repeatedly. "Rahul Gandhi is on bail in seven cases...in fact in Patna court, he has faced similar charges for his remarks that all Modis are thieves," the Minister pointed out.

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In his disqualification Rahul joins illustrious grand mom Indira Gandhi

Indira Gandhi's arrest triggered nationwide strikes and protests. The Congress party supporters demanded her immediate release. In the face of national unrest, Indira Gandhi was freed from prison on the night of December 26, 1978 after spending one week (that is from Dec 20th) in detention for breach of privilege and contempt of Parliament.

New Delhi 

Rahul Gandhi on Friday, March 24, joined the illustrious club of his grand mom Late Indira Gandhi.

On 12th June 1975, Justice Jagmohanlal Sinha of Allahabad High Court found Indira Gandhi guilty of electoral malpractices. 

The judge had declared the election verdict in the Rae Bareilly constituency "null and void", and barred Indira from holding elected office for six years. While the charges of bribery were dismissed, the court had found Indira guilty of misusing government machinery. 

The court order gave the then Congress (R) 20 days to make arrangements to replace Indira Gandhi in her official posts.

'Nagaland Page' 

The verdict helped galvanize the opposition political parties, who demanded that Indira Gandhi resign from office immediately. Jayaprakash Narayan, the leader of the Janata Morcha, a coalition of opposition political parties, called for a campaign of civil disobedience to oust Indira's government.

On 25th June 1975, a state of emergency was declared by the President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed making

Indira and her son Sanjay Gandhi all powerful. 

In 1978 during the Janata regime under Prime Minister Morarji Desai, the Lok Sabha expelled 'former Prime 

Minister Indira Gandhi' from membership for having repeatedly committed breach of privilege and contempt of the House.

She was also sentenced to jail. The historic decision awarding the unprecedented punishment came at the 

end of a 15-hour tumultuous debate spread over several sittings on December 20. The issue was debated

since December 8, 1978. 

The motion to send Indira to prison and expel her was carried by 279 votes in favour and 138 against. 

Thirty-seven members abstained. The House also had resolved that her former aide, R K Dhawan, and former chief of the CBI, D Sen, be committed to jail. 

Indira Gandhi’s jail term was to be effective till the prorogation of the session. This was the first time that a former prime minister has been imprisoned for breach of privilege and contempt of the House anywhere in the world, said a report. 

This is also the first time that a member of Parliament has been sentenced to jail by the House.

On May 7, 1981, the Lok Sabha rescinded the December 19, 1978 resolution moved the then Prime Minister, Morarji Desai, under which Indira Gandhi was expelled from the House and sent to prison.

The House adopted Congress-U member B R Bhagat’s motion setting aside the findings of the 1978 Privileges Committee and the resolution of the House. Except the DMK and the Muslim League, the entire Opposition had walked out against the ruling of the Speaker Balram Jakhar, who had overruled all the objections of the Opposition members that the motion could not be taken up under the Rules of the House.

Notably, besides B R. Bhagat and seconder C. T. Dhandapani (DMK), those participating in the debate included Brahmananda Reddi, Mohan Lal Sukhadia, Ashok Sen, Jagannath Kaushal, Vithal Gadgil (all Congress-I), K. Mayathevar (DMK), G.M. Banatwala (Muslim League) and Frank Anthony (Nominated).

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Corruption, 'veiled communism' and North East

New Delhi 

Post breakup of the Soviet Union, Boris Yeltsin was not popular among Russians for a number of reasons, including the poorly performing economy. His team gave a spin for a while that the best way to beat rivals was to shape himself as ‘anti-communist’.

This small episode has some lessons for the north east where some 'revolutionary' ideas were encouraged but strong influences of Christianity did not allow the leftist ideologies to thrive. But the biggest 'unspoken'vice of communist politics - the Corruption - has thrived.Some of it came out before the media paradoxically during the stint of Indrajit Gupta, India's only communistHome Minister in the 1990s. In December 1996, one data revealed by the Union Home Ministry said in the 'last 25 years'-- that is between 1971 and 1996 -- the Centre has spent a whopping Rs 30,000 crore in Nagaland. In a populationof 12 lakh, thus the data revealed that on an average Rs 25 lakh was supposed to have been spent per person.

'Nagaland Page'

Bravo Congress leaders of the time and also regional parties and all Chief Ministers --- where did the money vanish?

One easy argument is that the huge shares of the money went to corrupt Babus and unscrupulous Netas. The thenHome Minister Gupta later said these figures had a gory tale for all. The United Front government under H D Deve Gowdawas still spirited and wanted to pour in more money. The 'IAS' -- our famous 'I am Sorry club' knew how to smile around.So did the business community in Guwahati, Dimapur and of course in Delhi.

The army bosses transferred during that time include one Lt Gen S S Grewal with whom I interacted a loton more than one occasion. His diagnosis of various issues was also unique. Of course, a strong case was madeout that the 'political problem' such as the one facing Nagaland could hardly have an essentially a military solution. The peacetalks were still far off.Lt Gen Grewal, who later in 1998, became Adjutant General in the Army Headquarters in 1998 had also saidthat pouring in money too was no solution to the problems faced by Nagas. 

During my interaction with a few IB officials serving and having retired from Kohima then, I was informedof a diary noting wherein Dimapur was described as a 'town of unfinished buildings and new buildings'.Today, in 2023, we need not elaborate much on that. One retired IB official later used to pen columns forNagaland newspapers as well.

Once he told me, "No one wants to live on charity. Everyone is very proud. But there is an unwritten policy. CondemnNew Delhi's funding policy and yet grab them when the opportunity comes". This is also an episode one neednot speak much.

Well, if we thought Congress leaders had failed, so did regional leaders across the region. Moreover in many cases evenCongress leaders virtually ran 'one-man shows' in their respective states following almost a communist pattern.For decades and elections after elections Gegong Apang in Arunachal Pradesh was the undisputed Congressleader. In Mizoram, another Congress veteran Lalthanhawla did not allow any second rung leaders to come up.

About him the joke circulated by a journalist friend of mine was that Lalthanhawla was the 'only Indian Chief Minister who visits Mizoram frequently'. In Nagaland of course it took years for leaders like Hokishe Sema, S C Jamir, J B Jasokie, I K Sema, K L Chishi, Chingwang Konyak and Shikiho Sema to fight it out among themselves. Of course no leader's 'monopoly' was allowedtill 1995. The powerful AGP leaders in Assam could not show any stewardship nor sincerity to pull out the state from backwardness. 

Thus, insurgency in Nagaland or even the rise of ULFA in Assam had many facets and the causes were multiple including historic, geographical, political, economic and even a strong sense of tribal identity. Many years back,there was another problem - the fear of the unknown. Shillong's parochial violence had other tales to tell.

In 2023 yet again, one need not be retold about all these again. The centre too is by now well informed.But in the context of Nagaland, as some of us are waiting patiently for a final peace pact and 'some others'are quite busy to delay if not sabotage it; there are some lessons to be learnt from the past.

At one point at a meeting of regional leaders from all northeastern states in Itanagar, Late Vamuzo had highlighted one crucial fact. He had said that in some ways, the North East India was already 'dotted with graves of half-baked and failed accords'.A flamboyant leader that he was, Vamuzo had pointed out the 16 Point Agreement (1960) and the Shillong Accord (1975) of Nagas, the Assam Accord (1985), the Mizoram Accord (1986), the Tripura Accord of 1988 and the Bodo Accord of 1994. In the last two and half decades since the Itanagar meeting, a few more such accords have come to stay. 

But have we achieved what we really desired? To this query too, I am too keen to share what another former Nagaland Chief Minister Late J B Jasokie used to say. "My Naga people are suffering from typhoid, New Delhihas sent medicines and a team of expert doctors for malaria".

Finally, Ho Chi Minh had raised a guerrilla army in Vietnam, promising them a Utopian communist future. Butwhat transpired was a nation ruled by corrupt party officials, with no rights or civil liberty. The theory peddled by Ho Chi Minh was far removed from what he promised. Indian democracy in Delhi has been left-leaning, and yes, I rest my argument here.

ends

   

Apt goes the saying, 'a leader on bail' -- Rahul has seven such cases

New Delhi 

Without 'stay' on the sentence by the Surat court itself, Congress MP and former president of the grand old party, Rahul Gandhi, could have been behind bars. Well, the verdict of the Surat court is never in isolation. 

Rahul Gandhi is already out on bail in the famous 'National Herald case' pursued by BJP leader Dr Subramanian Swamy. In this case, Rahul Gandhi and also his mother Sonia Gandhi were granted bail in December 2015 on a personal bond of Rs 50,000. On Thursday, Dr Swamy claimed the National Herald will come up for a crucial round of hearing in April and that Rahul could be facing much bigger troubles.

There are six other cases in which Rahul Gandhi is out on bail, sources said.

On July 6, 2019, Rahul Gandhi was granted bail by a Patna court in another defamation case related to

the same row as in the Surat court case. This case was filed by a BJP leader for Rahul's comments saying 

“all Modis are thieves”. There is a Modi community in Bihar too.

On July 12, 2019, Rahul Gandhi was granted bail by an Ahmedabad court in another defamation case. 

The case was filed by the Ahmedabad District Cooperative Bank after he had alleged that the bank was involved in a scam of swapping bank notes during demonetisation in 2016.

The Guwahati court has also granted him bail in another defamation case filed by the RSS. The bail was granted on a bond of Rs 50,000 in September 2016. The case was filed after Rahul had misled that he was 'prevented' by the RSS from entering the Barpeta Satra in Assam in December 2015.

On July 4, 2019, Rahul was granted bail by a Mumbai court in a defamation case filed by a RSS worker. This case was filed for his remark linking activist Gauri Lankesh’s killing with the “BJP-RSS ideology”. The bail was granted on a surety amount of Rs 15,000.

In November 2016, the Bhiwandi court in Maharashtra had granted bail to the Congress leader in a case filed by another RSS worker. This case is linked to Rahul Gandhi's absurd claims that the RSS had killed Mahatma Gandhi. Even the Supreme Court had slammed him for such ‘collective’ comments, and had ruled that he will have to face trial and prove his point in the court.

The moral of the lesson being Rahul Gandhi has developed a habit of making unfounded allegations against organisations such as RSS and other nationalist leaders and communities.

In relation to the Surat court order, Dr Swamy has said, " I have not seen the entire court order. But hate speech against a community is a serious offence".

He also said, "The Congress party and Rahul Gandhi cannot escape from this; they can only try to buy time".

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Rahul Gandhi served with two years imprisonment on a Defamation Case

 A Surat court on Thursday, March 23, held Congress MP Rahul Gandhi guilty in a 2019 defamation case and sentenced him to two years imprisonment. The court, however, approved his bail on a surety of Rs 15,000 and stayed the sentence for 30 days to allow him to appeal. 

"This is new India. If you raise your voice against injustice, then ED-CBI, Police, FIR will be unleashed on you. Rahul Gandhi too is getting punished for speaking the truth and raising his voice against the dictator. The law of the country gives an opportunity to Rahul Gandhi to appeal and he will exercise the right," Jairam Ramesh said adding, "We are not afraid."

BJP MLA Purnesh Modi had lodged a complaint against Rahul Gandhi’s remarks in2019 on the ‘Modi’ surname wherein he repeatedly asked, “Nirav Modi, Lalit Modi, Narendra Modi. How come they all have Modi as common surname? How come all the thieves have Modi as common surname?” on April 13, 2019, at a rally in Kolar. Furthermore, he added, “The name Modi symbolises the collusion between India’s biggest crony capitalist and the Prime Minister of India”. 

The court of Chief Judicial Magistrate HH Varma, however, granted Rahul Gandhi bail and suspended the sentence for 30 days to allow him to appeal in a higher court.

Rahul Gandhi earlier plead not guilty in front of the Surat court in October 2019. As per the case Rahul was charged under sections 499 (defamation) and 500 (punishment for defamation) of the IPC. However, the Surat District Court sentenced Rahul Gandhi to two years imprisonment u/s 504 (Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for his remarks against the Modi surname.

Will Rahul Gandhi lose his Wayanad MP seat? 

Under Section 8(3) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, “a person convicted of any offence and sentenced to imprisonment for no less than two years shall be disqualified from the date of such conviction and shall continue to be disqualified for a period of six years since his release.”

The court order became a rallying point for the opposition leaders as two non-Congress chief ministers Delhi's Arvind Kejriwal and Jharkhand's Hemant Soren protested against the verdict. 

Meenakshi Lekhi, New Delhi MP and Union Minister of State for External Affairs:

"In 2013, Rahul Gandhi tore the ordinance which sought to overturn the SC’s verdict to disqualify legislators convicted & sentenced to over two years in prison. Today, he is ordered 2 years of jail…You reap what you sow. Will Rahul Gandhi be disqualified as Member of Parliament?"

Amit Malviya, BJP IT cell chief:

Court convicts Rahul Gandhi for his casteist and defamatory comment, targeting a section of the society. He is flippant and dangerous, who has no compunction deriding India and Indians. He had recently pleaded for Europe and US intervention in India’s internal affairs… Shameful.

Congress official reaction: "Everyone knows...Rahul Gandhi ji is raising his voice against the dictator. Showing courage to call wrong, wrong. The dictator is horrified by this courage. Sometimes ED, sometimes police, sometimes case, sometimes they are trying to intimidate with punishment. Rahul Gandhi ji will file a just appeal in this matter. We will fight and win."

Maturing of Moneycracy : Vanishing Political Trust

New Delhi 

In more ways than one, experts say the power elite appear to be least troubled by the gathering storm.

Despite the number of democratic states has continued to grow, the share of weaker electoral democracies has grown significantly. This is a global phenomenon and the clock is ticking.

Closer home in India, the experience with democracy has been at best mixed and yet there is no other alternative. In Nagaland context, the general refrain is that the 'money' decided the poll outcome in Feb 2023 polls.

Even those who are cherishing the final outcome will do well to realise that in such a situation the state could be slowly walking into a dangerous zone - 'everyone will grow fed up with politics'.

This could bring in the vanishing political trust. I circulated a few questions for my friends and will be sharing their feedback here.

Do you generally take interest in politics ? Those above 40 among Naga friends including women replied in affirmative.

But among those in their twenties and thirties, the 'response' was discouraging. Thus are we to accept a Myth - The Popular

participation in politics is higher than before. 

This drags us to the next proposition Reality -- Insensitive political leaders, money-influenced farcical polls

and corrupt political parties have resulted in this widespread indifference. 'Ki koribo na' !

One feedback rings like a warning. "Everything under the present democratic system is Use and Throw;

and revolving around temporary mindsets of me, myself and my gangs. People losing trust in the dynamism of 

democracy and state concepts is a dangerous trend".

In these, another quote from a respondent is critical -- "Any political party is like a temporary hut or parking slot.

The Netas are only in search of a more lucrative space".

Sadly, however, when I grilled a few politicians and 'elected MLAs' in the present House - their refrain

was: 'Even voters look for lucrative offers. No use blaming us'. 

There were a few other takeaways.

In my rough estimates about 60-70 percent of respondents had 'No Hesitation/Doubt' in stating

that one should be loyal first to one's village clan/tribe etc. On this also, common voters say

they are unable to rise above such parochial considerations as the political masters have played

these games intensely in the last five-six decades. 

Political or party-wise polarisation just does not exist in Nagaland. Even the broad divide of regional Vs

national (that is Congress) has vanished in the last two decades. 

One well informed respondent wrote back: "In the past democracy and elections in Nagaland

had generated hopes. It heralded changes. Stalwarts like S C Jamir was defeated by A Kevichusa

in 1971 and Hokishe Sema by Rano Shaiza (post Emergency). Ms Rano Shaiza being a woman did not

prevent Naga voters opt for the UDF nominee and the 'Cock'  symbol".

But the respondent (we are concealing the gender) also hastened to add - "Democracy has quietly

replaced old power equations. In a number of cases people had reposed faith in young candidates. But as years

passed by, money became a more influential card. This has changed the character of politics and elections".

But if these observations are reflected back on the political class, a senior leader from Mon district said,

"In Nagaland politics is hardly based on party ideology. Voters do not bother much about what a political party 

stands for but they are more interested in what the MLA/Minister can give him/her and their families 

at the personal level  The general belief is if my Minister can give a job or two, those are either for my children

or my clans".

Thus, there is another Myth. The electoral system has ensured greater legitimacy for itself than the past.

Hence the Reality is -- "We do not care about votes and candidates and their parties. We want our share

of the cake, contract money and some benefits".

Thus, in Eastern Nagaland -- 'moneyed candidates' could garner substantial votes notwithstanding the past failures

and even total 'dislike' of the people vis-a-vis the political party/parties. 

On this, some Dimapur voters said -- "Money did not matter. We had complaints against Congress in the 

past, but in 2023, we voted for K Therie and we knew it was just a symbolic battle".

I also threw in a critical question -- Whether Governance in Nagaland would have been better without

political parties and elections?

On this too; the responses have been interesting. Six out of ten said 'no'. The reason being the system is

in rot and hence even officials will not be able to deliver because nepotism and other 'ugly isms' and parochial

considerations will be at play. 

 

The final takeaway is -- Doubts and Suspicion persist in every manner. 

In the subsequent stages, one will try to examine issues like IT revolution and Technology - Has this 

strengthened democracy? And if it has not, what is the roadmap? How does the Whatsapp industry still

encourage Selfish Manoeuvre to thrive?

ends 

Clamour for Solution grows as rebel groups celebrate 'Naga Republic Day' :::: Governor Ganesan pitches for 'early solution'

Governor Ganesan pitches for 'early solution' through the peace process that is honorable, acceptable, and inclusive.

New Delhi/Dimapur

Various Naga militant groups including NSCN-IM and outfits that are part of theumbrella organisation Naga National Political Group (NNPG) observed what they call the 'Naga Republic Day' on Tuesday, March 21.

"Solution to the Indo-Naga problem is the only answer to the perennial burden on the people. I remind the Naga public and leaders at all level to seriously pursue and assist in salvaging our history and identity," said M B Neokpao Konyak of NSCN-Unification at their designated camp at Khehoyi near Dimapur.

NNPG leaders 

The NSCN-Unification led by Neokpao Konyak and N Kitovi Zhimomi is the principal forcebehind NNPG which is all for an early signing of a final peace pact with the Govt of India. Kitovi is the convener of the NNPG.

"I urge the current dispensation at Kohima, headed by Nagaland state Chief Minister (Neiphiu Rio) to shift focus from electoral politics to facilitating and resolving the Indo-Naga political problem. Rampant extortion and corruption in our social, political and economic spheres is the achille's heel of the Naga people," Neokpao Konyaksaid. 

In his speech, Q. Tuccu, chairman of NSCN-IM, however said, "the ball is in the court of India".

In reference to contentious issues of Flag and a separate Naga Constitution, which the Govt of India has rejected,the NSCN-IM leader said, "We are now simply waiting how the Government of India will pick up the threads of the Indo-Naga political talks with correct narrative".He stated, "What is to be done in the event of failure of talks? We have to work out a survival strategy" andwent on to add,  "...the final showdown must be a battle to decide our future. The fight is going to be tough".

Another group also owing allegiance to the NNPG, the NSCN-Reformation leader Y. Wangtin Nagasaid, "The NNPGs have completed the negotiating part and made known to the Nagas what has been discussed and agreed upon between India and the Nagas. The NNPG maintained total transparency as talk is held for the Nagas based on political history. Now, the ball is in GOI’s court and the Naga people should simply observe as to how far New Delhi is serious to solve the long pending Naga political issue". 

"The GoI should be serious to fulfill what was promised. Come, let us reason together and act together," Wangtin said.

Notably, in his address to the newly constituted Nagaland assembly, the state Governor La Ganesansaid on Tuesday that due to the unresolved Naga political issue, the smooth march of the State toward progress and development was being affected. He, therefore, stressed the need for an 'early solution' through the peace process that is honorable, acceptable, and inclusive.

The Governor assured that the state government led by NDPP-BJP dispensation would be proactive and continue to play the role of a sincere and active facilitator for strengthening the ongoing peace process for bringing an early solution.

In a significant development, NSCN-IM & NNPG leaders on Jan 14 inked a joint statement seeking to open a new vista in mutual ties and how to "collaborate" for resolution of the Naga "historical and political rights with the Govt of India".

The joint statement also said that, "...the NNPG and the NSCN on this day declare our unconditional commitment to collaborate on the basis of our respective agreements (Framework Agreement of 2015 and the Agreed Position of 2017) with immediate effect, for the resolution of the Naga "historical and political rights with Govt of India". The signatories were Q Tuccu, chairman of NSCN-IM and N Kitovi Zhimomi, convener NNPG. 

The election process in February apparently had delayed the peace process and analysts feel things could be broughtback on track at the earliest now.  

ends 

(Nirendra Dev is a New Delhi-based journalist. He is also author of books, 'The Talking Guns: North East India' and 'Modi to Moditva: An Uncensored Truth'. Views are personal)