# In Assam, ULFA activities reached peak in the 1980s when the outfit made a 'strategic entry' by playing modern day Robinhood and pledging to cleanse the state of its ills including corruption.
# In Mizoram, one former Congress leader and now only BJP MLA B D Chakma was convicted in a corruption case last month.
# In Meghalaya, a party office bearer has been charged with running a brothel.
# BJP demands CBI inquiry into the incident of collapse of dome of the under-construction assembly building in New Shillong Township.
# In the 1980s, M J Akbar, as editor of a popular daily wrote acidly - "In Nagaland, payments are made on earth for works done in heaven".
New Delhi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday made a strong pitch for a decisive fight against corruption and 'Parivaarwaad' -- nepotism and family rule during his Independence Day speech.
In the context of Nagaland - one of those states - where it is taken as a way of life -- the best epitaph for Corruption would be - well, it's difficult to define.
Only the 'scale' is different is one refrain. Yet, common people are against it.
Gaon Burah Federation general secretary Shikuto Zalipu told this writer: “Like Modi, we Nagas are also angry against Corruption. This menace and nepotism have truly harmed Nagas the most. But there is hope in Modi as he would be knowing by now what is happening in Nagaland in the name of welfare works and development”.
The Prime Minister also used the ramparts of Red Fort and an auspicious occasion to pledge that it is "our effort that those who have looted the country will have to pay back".
In social media, people have started mocking the BJP-NDPP alliance on several counts.
Now, 'corruption' bogies too have been added.
Modi also appealed to the citizens - "Till people develop 'nafrat (hatred)
towards corruption and a corrupt person and till such people are not degraded in the society till then the mindset to indulge in financial defalcation will not go".
Very strong words.
These have come when there is immense debate that the ED has already questioned
Congress President Sonia Gandhi and ex-Congress chief Rahul Gandhi.
The PM also made a veiled reference to huge wads of currencies recovered from Trinamool leaders and their associates.
"In a country ... where people don't have PLACE TO HIDE the money they have stolen. Such a situation is not good".
Well, situations may not be good in Nagaland as well. Some people continue to grow rich, some people continue to struggle and suffer. ED had made news when it came to probe the works of the high court building.
"But our problem is there are scores of people who want to grow rich by hook or by crook, " said a Dimapur-based BJP leader -- upset over the seat alliance with NDPP.
There have been several summer(s) of discontent; yet the journey continues.
Nagas often complain that the corruption menace has actually torn the society from its moorings.
All these have created and nurtured greed. But the real issue is that 'greed' has also encouraged an equally monumental desire to 'feed' that greed.
This menace and the 'training' to learn the tricks of the games has made people hug the very chainthat binds them.
Why does an election turnout to be a season of festivities? Do festivals also mean easy money and a lot of money?
Two hours after Prime Minister Modi's address on Monday (Aug 15), I received two tele calls from Nagaland.
One of them wondered - "Will you hate me, or I should hate you more".
I understood the import of his caustic remarks as Modi says only 'real hatred' against corruption can eradicate the menace.
Another person shared similar sentiment of sadness and observed that if someone in Kohima puts together a report card of various institutions in the past few years -- opposition-less regimes both under T R Zeliang and Neiphiu Rio -- the outcome would be depressing.
Other northeastern states too are touched.
Congress general secretary in Meghalaya, Sanjay Das said - "If the Prime Minister is sincere about fighting corruption; his party should snap all ties with regional parties like NPP in Meghalaya and NDPP in Nagaland. These two parties are now epitome of corruption".
So far, he said, Modi has only targeted opposition parties and misused ED and CBI.
ends
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