Why "second senior most" CM in North East missed Dec 18 NEC show ?
Shillong
Media questioning is often called deliberate kite flying or simply the misinterpretation.
Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga is the senior most Chief Minister in the region now and he did attend NEC Golden Jubilee show graced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his handpicked Home Minister Amit Shah here at Meghalaya capital on Sunday, Dec 18, 2022.
Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio is the second senior most CM having first come to power in 2003. Zoramthanga first became CM in 1998.
But why did Nagaland Chief Minister and a key NDA ally NDPP leader Rio gave NEC extravaganza a miss ?
Of course Governor Jagdish Mukhi, who is also Assam Governor, was present. BJP national vice president and in charge Meghalaya, M Chuba Ao, also was in attendance. Moreover, Rio is a "good friend" of his Assam counterpart Himanta Biswa Sarma, who is again the NEDA convener.
Some of these issues are being raised at Shillong as one interacted with BJP leaders and a few regional party leaders in Shillong-- a day after Prime Minister Modi visited the poll-bound Meghalaya.
Among those present at the Sunday event were CMs of Meghalaya, Assam, Manipur (N Biren Singh), Arunachal (Pema Khandu), Tripura (Manik Saha) and Sikkim (Prem Singh Tamang). PM later went to Agartala but still Tripura CM came to Shillong.
One senior politician in Meghalaya when came to know about this scribe's interest about Nagaland politics and elections, and that one also writes for 'Nagaland Page' -- simply remarked -- "Are elections really happening in Nagaland....your Chief Minister also did not come ?"
Of course BJP leaders from Nagaland were summoned to Shillong and even three member BJP central leaders' meeting with Chief Minister Rio at Kohima was Dec 16 was cancelled.
Earlier a lot of speculation was raised about possibilities of BJP trying to revisit the 20:40 seat share formula that has left BJP virtually crippled in Nagaland since July 26,, 2022.
Meanwhile, there are other controversies about PM's Sunday visit.
A Shillong-based newspaper said as it was a Sunday the local turnout was poor and instead a large number of buses with crowd were parked at Golf Club and Lad Marwoh areas on Dec 18.
Trinamool Congress candidate for North Shillong Ms Elgiva Rynjah told this journalist: "The Prime Minister came to Meghalaya on wrong timing...it was a Sunday..on Sundays even as a Christian I don't go to the podium and address a function. But you see, our Chief Minister being a Christian himself (Mr Conrad) not only addressed the gathering...he also spoke in Hindi".
"You know why he did that ...because he wants to get green signals from Narendra Modi...and I will tell you today, Mr Conrad Sangma has made a blunder. Welcome to the world of politics...and may be he is still a kid".
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Inking peace pact by Zeliangrong group augurs well for Naga Talks
New Delhi
The Government of India's continued and persistence efforts to ensure'insurgency-free and prosperous northeast' is showing immense results as the Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF) entered into a cessation of operation agreement with the centre and the BJP-led Manipur government.
Of course, Chief Minister N Biren Singh tweeted to say - "This will be a significant boost to the peace process in Manipur".
However, it is perhaps one of those half truths as often underlined by politicians.In fact, there may be reasons to believe that the tripartite pact inked on Dec 27 will actually give a boost to the vexed and long pending Naga peace talks.
A rival faction of ZUF had earlier befriended pro-Solution Naga militants' groupNNPG and this coming around of the new group now signals that the Government ofIndia's peace initiatives have takers in the north east. In other words, this is yet anotherinstance wherein peace emissary AK Mishra can adopt a more assertive stance in his parleys with the NSCN-IM.
Earlier this year, on April 27, 2022, the two factions of the ZUF signed a historic agreement to work together as one unified body, inclining to public cherishment.The two signatories were Raitu Chawang, representing one faction and Jenchui Kamei, representing the other faction.
But in June 2022 in less than two months, the Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF) headed by Raitu Chawang made a “declaration” that the joint declaration dated 27-04-2022 stands "null and void".
Such warring factions were indirectly influencing the peace process in neighbouring Nagaland as Zeliangrongtribes are Nagas ethnically and do reside also in Nagaland. Zeliangrongs have substantial presence in Tamenglongregion of Manipur and this indirectly could 'weaken forces' who are against an early Solution to the Nagapeace talks. At one point, NSCN-IM understandably had influence even in the Tamenglong region of Manipur.
The peace parleys kicked off in 1997 are now at an advanced stage and the centre is keen to give the same a push.
The NNPG led by Kitovi Zhimomi is keen for an earlier signing of a final agreement with the Government ofIndia while NSCN (IM) led by Thuingaleng Muivah is still sticking to their 2019 demands for a separate Flagand a Naga Constitution. Both the demands have been outright rejected by the Government of Indiamore than once.
The ZUF has been demanding a separate State for the Zeliangrong Naga tribe. The armed group also claim to be the followers of Rani Gaidinliu, a freedom fighter from Manipur.
However, observers say the NSCN-IM will still not give up their demands of Flag and Constitution. Sourcesinsist things will change on ground if two factions of ZUF essentially take pro-Government of Indiaand mount pressures on their 'contacts' among other Naga leaders to agree for an earlier Solution.
Elections are due in Nagaland by February 2023 but certain doubts still persist whether elections will beheld on time as the BJP's hyped poll promise of 2018 -- 'Election for Solution' would need to be implemented.
Moreover, there is already a demand by Eastern Nagaland leaders for carving out a separate state in the ENPO region and various social organisations and tribal bodies have already threatened to holdpolls in 20 seats in the region.
"Thus to say let us have elections only in 40 seats out of 60 member-assembly would be the most laughableand unacceptable trajectory," says a senior Naga politician.
"Time should not be wasted debating non-issues," he says and insist that a peaceful Nagaland
will add a feather in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's cap more so when all eyes are onthe Prime Minister hosting the prestigious G-20 Summit.
In reference to Eastern Nagaland, there is already a suggestion that rampant corruption in state capital Kohimahas kept the backward region deprived and under-developed for years. This has brought in certain developmentalactivities and funds allocations vide alleged diversion under Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio's regime underscanner too. A central team has already visited the state and the affected ENPO region.
Alleged corruption by the state government though headed by BJP's partner (NDPP leader) Rio and is only backed by the BJP is also an embarrassment for the saffron party.
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