"You can really enjoy and relish a curry when it is hot".
Notably, veteran Naga leader S C Jamir, who also served as Gujarat Governor during the tenure of Narendra Modi as the Chief Minister, have been meeting the Prime Minister and insisting on not to delay the peace parleys.
"I have been telling the Prime Minister about the realities of the situation and I think it will be better that things should be expedited. After all, for how long we can go on negotiating," Jamir had told this writer in November last year (as reported by IANS also).
Talking about the Prime Minister's style of functioning and ability to take key and tough decisions, Jamir had said: "The Prime Minister has the guts, that is an advantage. The Naga issue has its complexities. I have seen many Prime Ministers, but one good quality with him is, he takes decisions and it is very important".
New Delhi
"The Prime Minister has the guts, that is an advantage. The Naga issue has its complexities. I have seen manyPrime Ministers, but one good quality with him (Narendra Modi) is, he takes decisions and it is very important". - S C Jamir had told this scribe in November 2021.
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He again held a crucial meeting with Modi on April 5. Not many people can deny their personal rapport.
Mr Modi perhaps fondly remembers that notwithstanding Sonia Gandhi's clear instructions and
constant push by the Manmohan Singh government, Jamir as the Governor of Gujarat did not
bother Modi much.
Jamir's magical charm was purely political and that of an astute functionary in such a key post.
He virtually rebelled against Delhi's powerful duo Sonia-Manmohan Singh.
"We had a very good relationship though I was there only for five months," Jamir told me.
"We were good friends. When I became Governor, I told him (Modi), I am ex-Chief Minister so
I know the responsibility of a Chief Minister. So as Governor I will never interfere".
The truth of the matter is unlike many mainstream and so-called 'secular' netas, Jamir knew the political potential of a man called Narendra Modi.
So the 'friendship' has stuck and Modi - very careful to talk about Congress and ex-Congress leaders - calls Jamir a "statesman".
So when Jamir met PM Modi again this year in April - it was understandably very free, frank and candid interaction.
Some of it was 'unusually frank', if some versions are to be believed.
In interaction with me, Jamir also made a remarkable statement.
"I think there is a limit to everything. When enthusiasm is there, I think it is better that a decision
is taken. Because when the curry is prepared, you can really enjoy and relish it when it is hot.
But when it becomes cold and stale, there will be hardly anybody willing to enjoy the curry".
One does not miss the obvious that things have moved decisively since Modi-Jamir meet.
The centre has done well to depute A K Mishra yet again to meet important stakeholders. There was
no red-tapism about peace emissary Mishra's visit to the NSCN (IM) camp at Hebron too.
Sources said it was only a courteous call and hence all eyes are on the NSCN (IM) delegation meeting
Mishra on Friday. A high-powered NSCN (IM) team has already reached Dimapur.
The NNPG leaders also met Mishra and deliberations were good. From his perspective, Mishra would
not have anything 'new' or different to offer. Perhaps his best refrain in the given circumstances is no one should
doubt the sincerity and commitment of the Government of India to resolve the long pending and complex
issue.
From New Delhi's perspective again, the so-called paper war between the NNPG and the NSCN (IM)
may not be a healthy development. So both sides could be advised to apply restrains.
The demand for resignation of state MLAs and Ministers by the NNPG leadership was also an important
episode in recent socio-political context. Some legislators are not happy with such statements, and others
were perhaps surprised more with the timing.
At the level of NNPG, interesting times are head. Patience is the game. From N Kitovi Zhimomi's
perspective on the personal front may be exciting part may come within next few weeks.
It is good, the NNPG's strongly worded statement in last two days still reposes trust in Prime Minister Modi.
The NNPG statement says - "The wisdom of Hon'ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi will matter most in
the coming days". One cannot agree more.
ends
Keen to examine all pros and cons, Centre seeks 'security inputs' on Nagaland
New Delhi
Now that things have been put on a faster track and major stakeholders are being sounded and taken into confidence for materialising a long lasting peace pact, the Government of India is seeking 'security related inputs' from various agencies and the state authorities.
"Enlisting views and various reports on matters related to internal security and deployment and movement of army and central forces have assumed significance," a source said here.
The centre is keen to "examine" all pros and cons of the last stage of the peace process.
"A good planning always helps. This was the case in Jammu and Kashmir when the central government had abrogated the Article 370. The situations are different in Nagaland and some of the Naga-stronghold areas of Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh, but proper planning requires good and effective information," the source explained.
Centre's peace emissary A K Mishra, a former Special Director with Intelligence Bureau, is already camping in Dimapur for last few days and held important parleys with key players including officials, sources said.
The Union Home Ministry on Wednesday extended ceasefire with three groups -
(NSCN/NK), NSCN (Reformation) and NSCN/K-Khango.
The AFSPA has been effectively removed from 15 police stations in seven districts in Nagaland with
effect from April 1, 2022.
The Union Home Ministry in a gazette notification recently announced that the AFSPA will be
effective only in nine districts of Nagaland including Dimapur, Niuland, Chumoukedima, Mon,
Kiphire, Noklak, Phek, Peren and Zunheboto; and the areas falling within the jurisdiction of 15 police stations
comprising Khuzama, Kohima North, Kohima South, Zubza and Kezocha police stations in Kohima District;
Mangkolemba, Mokokchung-I, Longtho, Tuli, Longchem and Anaki ‘C’ police stations in Mokokchung District;
Yanglok police station in Longleng District; and Bhandari, Champang, Ralan and Sungro police stations
in Wokha District.
Mishra also visited Hebron camp on Tuesday, April 19, to meet the aging NSCN (IM) general secretary
Thuingaleng Muivah.
The centre wants to tread the path to signing of a peace pact cautiously. It is against repeating some of the
mistakes of the past.
In the 1970s, several Naga militant leaders were 'not reconciled' to the Shillong Accord and had
condemned the pact that ultimately led to factionalism among the rebels and put the state and
the region in a vicious cycle of violence.
ends
Mishra has 'the toughest job' : Missing links Isak Swu and NNC ?
New Delhi
In the midst of high profile actions as Centre's representative A K Mishra reached Nagaland on Monday, April 18, 2022, one person is perhaps being missed - the 'Bible Baba' of Naga insurgency - Late Isak Chishi Swu.
 |
| Isak Swu, Muivah |
Though Thuingaleng Muivah has been the de-facto functional chief of the militant group NSCN (IM), even army officers and others among Late Swu's rivals would recall him as more of a 'Naga philosopher'.
The former chairman of the potent militant group was the unifying factor and an umbilical cord for all concerned people with the 'state of Nagaland'.
Swu expired in 2016 and certainly his demise makes a big difference in so many ways in the peace process.
When Swu expired, his detractors from other camps had stated that Isak Swu believed in Biblical verse (Mathew 6:33) seek "first His Kingdom and His Righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well".
Swu was known for his inclinations towards theology.
Analysts believe that right from the beginning, the Modi-led government was sincere with the talks process with the Naga groups. Prime Minister Narendra Modi particularly did not want to go down the memory lane as having done nothing just as Dr Manmohan Singh's ten years have been.
But the centre also wanted to deal with a prominent Naga rebel leader from 'Nagaland state'. Hence, efforts were made to reach out to the groups operating in Nagaland especially after Swu's death.
Ultimately on Nov 17, 2017 an Agreed Position was inked between NNPG and the centre.
Ravi was the architect of this move and N Kitovi Zhimomi emerged as a principal stakeholder.
Kitovi like Isak Swu is a Sema Naga - one of the major tribes in Nagaland that has control
over 9-10 assembly segments in the 60-member assembly.
Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury's letter to Amit Shah was penned on April 18. It has its
significance.
It does point out that Kitovi and his NNPG forum are insisting on early implementation of the pact signed in 2017.
Other than pressing problems faced by people in general and politicians in particular, there is yet another
crucial element.
Left to him, officials indicate, incumbent PM Modi wants to leave a legacy of achievements that he should
deliver peace in northeast India. Delivering peace in the next couple of months would also be
rated highly internationally as elsewhere there are fighting and serious troubles from Ukraine to Sri Lanka and
from Afghanistan to Myanmar.
There is yet another key facet. While the Naga movement was launched by A Zapu Phizo, an Angami Naga, in the
present peace parleys his organisation NNC is hardly in the picture.
Phizo's aging daughter Adino leads the group.
It would be prudent to reach out to this group and the leadership as well.
Moreover, the NNC represents the broad Tenyimiya sentiment - a cultural and linguistic block of several
tribes from Kohima, Tsemeniyu, Phek and Dimapur region.
Chief Minister Rio himself belongs to the Angami tribe and is a powerful and eminent Tenyimiya face.
The Government of India has been showing faith in Rio's leadership for more than one reason.
It would be good if the Tenyimiya factor is also appreciated in the entire game plan, maybe.
Many say leaving the NNC out of the negotiation and reaching out for an agreement would not
advisable in the long run since NNC is regarded as a 'political institution'.
The Tenyimia comprises ten fraternal tribes. These are Angami. Chakhesang, Rengma, Zeliangrong,
Pochury, Mao, Poumai, Maram, Thangal and Inpui.
They are spread over the contiguous areas of Nagaland, Manipur and also Assam.
Reports suggest Village Elders (GB Federation) had reached out to NNC leadership earlier
and got their blessings 'indirectly' for any measure that will bring peace. "They will not
oppose anything good," remarked a source.
Centre's new negotiator Mishra has the toughest job at hand. Does he have anything new ?
The peace talks were stalled over the emotive issues of Flag and Constitution. He is perhaps
expected to make last minute wrap up efforts.
The NNPG working committee has said earlier this year, "The political negotiations are over and to ensure that provisions of the agreement in respective Naga areas are meticulously and effectively implemented in letter and spirit, all Naga National workers, upon signing the political agreement, must return to their respective ancestral Naga inhabited areas to restrengthen and forge greater Naga historical and political identity".
ends
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Congress leader Adhir targets Rio, cites 'flip-flop' in Naga talks
New Delhi
On a day, centre's representative A K Mishra landed in Dimapur for parleys with key stakeholders including Naga militant leaders, Congress floor leader in Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury cited 'flip-flop' in the entire process and flayed Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio.
"Governor and Interlocutor in his address to Nagaland state assembly in Feb 2021 declared that talks have concluded. Assembly has adopted vote of thanks to the address. Thereafter, Chief Minister Shri Neiphu Rio moved a resolution demanding to resume talk instead of endorsing for implementation of agreements. This is what we call a flip-flop," Chowdhury wrote in a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
Rio : Was that a flip-flop ?
He said, "Stakeholders, after consideration of the agreed points, are demanding for implementation of the
agreements" - and this he stated, "I request you to kindly implement the above mentioned agreements
so that the Nagaland issue is resolved".
He said there are 'two official agreements' - the Framework Agreement signed with NSCN (IM) on August 3,
2015 and 'Agreed Points (Position)' signed with NNPG on Nov 17, 2017.
There have been differences between NSCN (IM) and the then interlocutor and former
state Governor R N Ravi. Now,the new representative of the centre, A K Mishra is in Nagaland
from Monday, April 18, to resume the stalled parleys.
Ravi has moved to Tamil Nadu as the Governor for quite some time now.
Mishra, a former Special Director of the Intelligence Bureau (IB), during his week-long stay in
Nagaland, is likely to meet Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, other Naga leaders and the leaders of
NSCN-IM and Naga National Political Groups (NNPG).
Last week, a section of Nagaland legislators irrespective of party affiliations also reportedly mounted
pressure on Rio urging him to deliver fast on peace.
Chief Minister Rio, Deputy CM Y Patton, former CM T R Zeliang and newly elected BJP MP Phangnon
Konyak recently called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Shah separately.
Veteran Naga leader S C Jamir also met PM Modi and urged to put the talks on a faster track.
ends
Lt Gen Manoj Pande, first among Sappers, to be Indian Army chief
New Delhi
The 29th Army Chief will be the first officer from the Corps of Engineers to become the head of Indian Army.
Lieutenant General Manoj Pande was on Monday, April 18, appointed as the next Chief of the Indian Army.
He will succeed Gen. Manoj Mukund Naravane, who is scheduled to complete his 28-month tenure on April.30.
“General MM Naravane #COAS & All Ranks of #IndianArmy congratulate Lieutenant General Manoj Pande
#VCOAS on being appointed as the 29th Chief of the Army Staff #COAS of the #IndianArmy.
Lt Gen Manoj Pande will assume the appointment of #COAS on 01 May 2022,” the Army tweeted.
An alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Lt Gen Manoj Pande was commissioned in December 1982
in the Corps of Engineers (The Bombay Sappers).
Pande had taken over as vice chief of army staff on February 1, 2022.
Lt. General Manoj Pande commanded an engineer regiment during Operation Parakram in the
Pallanwala sector along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir.
In his 39-year military career, Lt. Gen Pande has commanded an engineer brigade in the western theatre,
an infantry brigade along LoC, a mountain division in the Ladakh sector and a corps in the northeast.
He was the Commander-in-Chief of the Andaman and Nicobar Command before he took charge of the
Eastern Command.
Lt Gen Pande was also part of Operation Parakram, the 2001–2002 India–Pakistan standoff in response
to the Parliament attack. This was the second major military standoff between India and Pakistan
following the successful detonation of nuclear devices by both countries in 1998, the first being the
Kargil War of 1999.
ends
Amul takes a potshot at Elon Musk for attempts to take over Twitter
New Delhi
Amul's satirical advertisements are always trend setters.
The dairy brand has again come up with yet another witty topical advertisement.
This time, Amul has commented on billionaire Elon Musk’s attempts at owning Twitter.
Musk, CEO of Tesla and the founder of SpaceX, has lately expressed his desire to buy the micro blogging powerfulsocial media platform.
Musk has reportedly offered to buy Twitter for $43 billion.
Apparently as the media reports suggest, Twitter is resisting Musk’s attempts to take over the company, though the billionaire owns a 9.2 per cent passive stake in the company.
Musk is in effect the largest individual shareholder of the social media giant.
In the latest Amul advertisement, one finds Musk holding a cage and encouraging Twitter’s bird mascot to get inside the cage.
The ad is titled “Elon flexes his Muskles?” and “Amul takes over bread daily”.
ends
Peace, finally awaits Nagaland ?
New Delhi
Peace has been like an illusion for Nagaland. After decades of violence and
subsequent years of negotiations, reportedly a breakthrough was achieved
when all stakeholders held parleys in October 2019.
However, serious hurdles came up in subsequent period as the NSCN (IM)
raised the issues of Flag and a separate Constitution for Nagas. The government
of India obviously has rejected the demands.
There have been differences between NSCN (IM) and the then interlocutor and former
state Governor R N Ravi. Now,the new representative of the centre, A K Mishra will
land in Nagaland on Monday, April 18, to resume the stalled parleys.
Ravi has moved to Tamil Nadu as the Governor for quite sometime now.
Mishra, a former Special Director of the Intelligence Bureau (IB), during his week-long stay in Nagaland, is likely to meet Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio other Naga leaders and the leaders of NSCN-IM and Naga National Political Groups (NNPG).
N Kitovi Zhimomi heads the NNPG as the convener. This is an umbrella organisation of seven militant groups operating within Nagaland state and has been keen for an early signing of the final peace pact.
This umbrella organisation does not have any issues about flag and separate Naga constitution and
feels whatever issues can be resolved sitting across the table with the Government of India.
 |
| Doval key player in Naga parleys |
"The NNPG. and former Nagaland Governor (R.N.Ravi) negotiated on the principle that politics is an art of possibilities, and so the focus was to resolve the Indo-Naga political problems we should aim for a win-win situation for both sides," Kitovi said in Delhi recently.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Rio, accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister Yanthungo Patton of BJP,
United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Chairman TR Zeliang and newly-elected Rajya Sabha Member
S Phangnon Konyak met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Union Home Minister Amit Shah
separately in New Delhi and discussed the Naga peace talks issue.
Details of the meetings are not known.
The Nagaland MLAs including ministers sense public mood perhaps crystal clear and hence are insisting
to work unitedly for an early solution and peace accord.
They also reportedly mounted pressure on Chief Minister Rio to deliver on the same at the earliest.
Veteran Naga leader and former Governor of Gujarat, S C Jamir, also called on Prime Minister Modi
and is understood to have pressed for early solution and signing of the peace pact.
The Prime Minister is also understood to be in favour of putting the talks process on a faster track.
ends
 |
| Man who toiled hard: R N Ravi |
‘Think, plan for India in 2047’ - J P Nadda writes open letter to citizens
New Delhi
"Today, India is seeing two distinctive styles of politics - the NDA's efforts which are seen in their work and the petty politics of a group of parties, which is seen in their acerbic words," says BJP national president J P Nadda in an open letter to citizens.
The BJP chief also referred to a number of riots when the Opposition, mostly the Congress, was in power
and various incidents in opposition-ruled states like Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra to hit out at them.
He urged citizens, especially the youths to “think ahead and plan for how we all feel the nation must be
when we mark 100 years of Independence in 2047".
In the letter, JP Nadda also said, “Youth of India want opportunities not obstacles and urge opposition to
embrace politics of development".
Nadda also appealed to the “Opposition to embrace politics of development” while he slammed them for “waging
a direct onslaught on the spirit of the nation, casting aspersions on hardworking citizens.”
Nadda, who is on a tour of Karnataka, also emphasised on the `Mission 150` plan for the southern state
and said that the saffron party will do its best to fulfil the plan for the state.
Karnataka goes to polls by April-May 2023. In 2018, the Congress aligned initially with
JD(S) to form a coalition government but later the BJP came to power.
Meanwhile, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has said that a meeting will be held in Delhi
to decide about possible cabinet expansion in the state.
In his letter to fellow Indians, BJP national president Nadda said the opposition parties "tried, tested,
or I should say dusted and rusted approach of vote bank politics, divisive politics, and selective politics
is no longer working" as Prime Minister Narendra Modi's emphasis on 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka
Vishwas and Sabka Prayas' have seen Indians being empowered and getting the wings to rise further.
Unfortunately, this thrust towards development politics is being bitterly resisted by the rejected and
dejected parties which are once again taking refuge in vote bank and divisive politics, Nadda emphasised.
"Who can forget Rajiv Gandhi’s infamous words ‘when a big tree falls, the Earth shakes’ that justified
the killing of thousands of Sikhs in the wake of PM Indira Gandhi’s death," the BJP President wrote.
Nadda also asked questions about the recent violence in Congress-ruled Rajasthan.
"I want to remind the rejected and dejected political parties, since you talk about vote bank politics,
why have you forgotten the shameful happening in Karol, Rajasthan? What are the compulsions that are
driving your haunting silence on the issue?" he said.
ends
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