The trick called '40-20 formula' ....ensured Nagaland CM Neiphiu Rio continued in office... 'how long'? asks many Naga leaders !!
Big churning in #Nagaland politics hours before Amit Shah visit. #BJP gets war-ready for polls. over 30 ticket aspirants including #NDPP (Rio's party) stalwarts, sitting legislators meet central BJP leaders and make a case against CM #Rio's 40-20 formula
NNPGs blast Temjen Along, adopt ‘Solution not Election’ stand
The pro-solution umbrella organisation, NNPG led by N Kitovi Zhimomi, on Thursday launched a barrage of stinging criticism at Nagaland BJP president Temjen Imna Along and asserted that it was left with no option but to adopt “Solution not Election” stand as desired by the Naga people.
In a statement the NNPG Working Committee claimed that the “anti-solution stance of Nagaland BJP chief Temjen Imna Along and his cohorts” has greatly hampered the progress and fruition of Indo-Naga political talks.
“The evasive manoeuvre and non-committal attitude, the arrogance of Nagaland BJP President have accumulated beyond tolerance. Never once did he exhibit genuine concern and commitment for the Naga cause. On 9th November 2022, the WC, NNPGs wrote an official letter addressed to State BJP President for a meeting on crucial matters. Till date there is no response and he is still at large".
People's choice for Solution' and game of sabotage
New Delhi
The 'hands of clock' seem to have come back to the same position from where it all started. More and more Naga organisations and individual leaders are calling for avoiding or boycott of ensuing assembly elections in Nagaland giving reminiscence of the 1998 drama.
The United Front was in power in the centre and S C Jamir-led Congress government headed the regime in Kohima. Similar calls were made to stay away from assembly elections, but the poll process that follows a constitutional mechanism did take place and as many as 43 Congress candidates including Jamir just cake walked into the august House and Jamir retained power.
The BJP and two regional parties Nagaland People's Council (which now is NPF) and the fledgling Nationalist Democratic Movement (NDM) had stayed away from the polls.
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This time around all eyes are on Union Home Minister Amit Shah's visit to the state possibly for couple of hours on Friday, Jan 6. Leading organisations such as Nagaland Gaon Burrah Federation (NGBF), Central Nagaland Tribes Council (CNTC) and Eastern Nagaland Public Organisation (ENPO) have counseled avoiding elections at this juncture.
The general refrain being - 'people's choice' is in favour of an early Solution pact which at least the centre is keen and even Naga National Political Groups (an umbrella body) of seven militant groups are also ready to ink. The only exception is the NSCN-IM which says the pact if any should guarantee a separate Flag and Naga Constitution. Both the demands have been outright rejected by the Government of India.
On September 12, 2022 meeting in Delhi, Home Minister Shah told Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and other state legislators "woh baat nahi karna (do not raise the bogey of separate constitution). The ENPO stance for staying away from polls is on different ground -- it wants carving out of a separate statehood for Eastern Nagaland.
The Rio cabinet's appeal to ENPO to reconsider their decision has been rejected too.
"The people of Eastern Nagaland shall not participate in any election process of the state and the center until and unless a separate statehood “Frontier Nagaland” is fulfilled as demanded by the people of Eastern Nagaland", the ENPO said.
Ironically, in 1998, the NSCN-IM was against the polls. In 2023, what's its stance is not known publicly. But it is whispered that the group has "nexus" with state politicians in 'good positions' and thus they are not against election per se and it wants their men to be in power. The NNPG led by N Kitovi Zhimomi on the other hand is fiercely against the elections.
The NNPG had earlier more than once demanded resignation of the regime led by Rio to facilitate an early signing of a peace pact. It has already signed the preliminary Agreed Position in 2017 when R N Ravi was the state Governor and negotiator. It is well known that political lobbying and some pressure tactics ultimately led to transfer of Ravi as the Governor of Tamil Nadu.
"There are leaders who would like to continue with the status quo so that undeterred exploitation of Nagaland and its people could continue. For them ‘no solution is solution’ so that they could continue to loot the State and its people," wrote former CM and ex-Gujarat Governor S C Jamir in an article. Jamir personally enjoys good rapport with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and whom he calls "a man with with guts and determination who can deliver and resolve complex issue like that of Nagas".
The influential Gaon Burrah Federation (of village elders) in a detailed statement said - “NGBF is convinced that although elections are a necessity in a democratic World, it is not advisable at this hour in Nagaland. Let elections be postponed in favour of President's Rule to ensure honorable and acceptable solution".
It further said, “NGBF understands that openly expressing decision to boycott and abstain from democratic exercise in any part of India or in Nagaland either by ENPO of Central Nagaland Tribes Council (CNTC) will seriously dent the image of the largest democratic nation in the world and its political leadership".
However, it said that since the matter is about a decades-long political struggle, the people have the legitimate political and historical right to express themselves, in the knowledge that 'negotiations have already concluded'.
On the ENPO demand for a Frontier Nagaland state, the NGBF maintained that “Resolving the Naga political issue and post solution realignments of flawed political and administrative status will fulfill the aspiration of Eastern Nagaland Tribes".
In fact, NNPG sources also say that as agreed between the umbrella body and the centre, in their Status Paper, the NNPG had proposed for 'special autonomous territorial councils' for Nagas of Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Nagaland even with legislative powers.
Some influential civil society groups who were keen for early Solution have requested BJP state unit and others to organise a meeting with Home Minister Amit Shah on Jan 6.
"We are sure, we want Solution. We are not sure what the centre wants. If we are back again on debate between elections and Solution, perhaps we are not being fair to posterity. Still, a meeting with India's Home Minister will be important. This is the time to speak out, are they really keen for Solution. When will be the mood again for such consensus in Nagaland," a key civil society leader said unable to conceal his growing frustration.
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Some even say the Congress went against Naga people's wish in 1998 and was in power for five years. But since then Congress has lost its base completely in the state. The BJP should thus draw lessons from the past blunders of Congress of 1998.
Ironically, incumbent Chief Minister Rio was part of Jamir's inner circle then.
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)
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