Meeting PM was like meeting a guardian, says Rajya Sabha MP Phangnon
New Delhi
Newly elected BJP MP in Rajya Sabha, S Phangnon Konyak, on Thursday said that meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi was like meeting "a guardian" and that it was one of the "most memorable days" for her.
"Yesterday (April 13, 2022) was one of the most memorable days for me as we @Neiphiu_Rio, @YanthungoPatton, @TRZeliang received precious words of wisdom from one of the greatest legends of our times - Honorable Prime minister @narendramodi ji," she wrote in a series of tweets.
"I must remark that his patience, and affection are some of the traits that could be felt the moment you are in his presence. So many things to take care of , so many responsibilities and yet, here he was, fully attentive, listening patiently to each word that was uttered," wrote the lawmaker who was part of the special UDA delegation led by Chief Minister Rio to call on the Prime Minister ostensibly to discuss the stalled peace talks.
Ms Konyak, who was elected unopposed last month, further wrote - "To top it all, that
energy infectious smile never left his face, conveying the special place that not only Nagaland but
entire North East has in his heart".
"Meeting him was like meeting a guardian who has your best interests in his heart, and no wonder the
entire North East is witnessing developmental miracles with him at the helm"
The first Naga woman MP in the House of Elders thanked the Prime Minister and also pledged that she would
"give my best to ensure that your (PM's) vision for Nagaland and North East as a whole becomes a reality".
The meeting between the Naga delegation and the Prime Minister was crucial as it came a day after the state
leaders had a brief meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
Apparently, the centre wants to ensure fast track the stalled peace talks and has been presuming that the
state government and elected legislators will work sincerely to bring all stakeholders at the negotiating table
and make them realise the futility of confrontation.
These meetings came on the backdrop of a strong statement from NSCN (IM) earlier this week wherein
it continued to stick to its demand for a separate Constitution and Naga Flag.
On April 9 in a key meeting of state legislators, some MLAs irrespective of party affiliation reportedly mounted
pressure on Chief Minister Rio to expedite the peace talks and arrive at a solution and signing of a pact.
Some elected legislators maintain that facing people in 2023 elections without any solution to Naga
political problem would be a difficult proposition as a promise based on the slogan 'Election for Solution'
was made by the BJP in 2018 polls.
Even otherwise the Naga social organisations and various groups had mounted pressure to boycott
the 2018 elections.
It may be recalled that the 1998 assembly polls were boycotted by non-Congress parties such as NPC, National
Democratic Movement and BJP and that had ensured a virtual cakewalk to power for Congress under the
leadership of S C Jamir.
Likes of Neiphiu Rio and T R Zeliang were part of the Congress legislators and Rio was made number
2 in the Jamir cabinet and given the sensitive portfolio of Home.
During the February 2003 assembly polls, the then CM Jamir had said that his government and the Congress
party had drawn the attention of the Election Commission and the Union Home Ministry under L K Advani
to the 'activities' of the separatist NSCN (IM).
Jamir had also alleged the NSCN (I-M) was threatening the voters despite its collective leadership, during its visit
to Delhi, announcing the outfit's non-involvement in the polls.
Noting much has changed since then as per the bitterness between Jamir and NSCN (IM) goes.
ends
New Delhi
One takeaway from the Joint Statement of the Indo-US 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue was strong reference to terrorism and crystal clear pressure on Pakistan to act.
"The Ministers called on Pakistan to take immediate, sustained, and irreversible action to ensure that no territory under its control is used for terrorist attacks," said the Joint Statement after the meeting Dr S Jaishankar and Rajnath Singh with US counterparts, Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin.
The statement also said - "The Ministers strongly condemned any use of terrorist proxies and
cross-border terrorism in all its forms and called for the perpetrators of the 26/11 Mumbai attack,
and Pathankot attack, to be brought to justice".
They called for concerted action against all terrorist groups, including groups proscribed by the
UNSC 1267 Sanctions Committee, such as al-Qa’ida, ISIS/Daesh, Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT), and
Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), and Hizb ul Mujahideen.
It is worth mentioning that Pakistan was once a close ally of the United States and therefore Washington
naming Pakistan in a written and joint statement with another global and regional player is a significant
step by itself.
The Ministers also emphasized the importance of upholding international standards on anti-money
laundering and combating the financing of terrorism by all countries, consistent with FATF recommendations, the
Joint Statement said.
The episode has definitely embarrassed Pakistan whose foreign policy in the recent past has gone topsy-turvy
due to its open slant towards China.
Media reports said that Pakistan's foeign office has shared its concerns regarding the statement
with the US side through diplomatic channels.
ends
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