No Issues : All asking "kiman pabo....Ki pabo"
.......India is changing, 'what' should really change in North East ?
New Delhi
The festering wound of Naga self-pride opens every election time.
The seven northeastern states are isolated from mainland India at least geographically.
Elections are being held in three states Nagaland, Meghalaya and Tripura. 'Emotional
integration' with the mainstream is definitely on but there are hiccups and hurdles. Often the
only way to curse 'someone from outside the region' is to scream - " Do not behave like
a typical Indian".
Some of it is also stated as a way of mannerism - without any intent. My best of educated and even 'pro-India nationalist' friends when asked, "where is Nirendra" would promptly respond: "He has gone to India". It only shows Solution remains illusive.
There is another important issue, and it's a common thread between all three poll-bound states and also four others. Most of the grievances of the people or so called 'issues' do not become real issues affecting mainland politics and social life.
The CAA hungama is an illustration. In northeast CAA is seen as 'pro-outsiders (irrespective of religious bias); in Delhi and elsewhere it was painted as 'anti-Muslim'. And the game continues.
A prominent Christian leader in Thahekhu village on the outskirts of Dimapur had told me in 2018, "Regardless of any party or ideological affiliation, we want change".
Corruption at the local level means poverty is growing in villages. This is amplified in the story of Mon district --- a snap carried by 'Nagaland Page' (Feb 8th, 2023). Such snaps are vote of no confidence neither the Chief Minister nor all 59 MLAs could see.
There are other arguments, even towns like Mokokchung or Zunheboto could not develop due to corruption.
Some Naga leaders say in 2018 also a peculiar predicament and 'desire for change' prevailed. The BJP gained as it could pick up 12 seats. But people still had shown faith in NPF and as many as 26 candidates had returned. In 2023, the NPF is almost going the Congress way. And NDPP survived -- who knows better than Neiphu Rio and Himanta Biswa Sarma - because of the magical 20:40 formula.
Who knows, without 20:40; if the craze for power really worked; the saffron party could be winning even 50 seats.
Maybe Modi and Shah did not like such a situation wherein all regional parties do a vanishing act and BJP gets the blame of 'bringing in Hindutva influence'. Is this a paradox -- that the prospects of doing extremely well pushed the Lotus party to press the 'caution' button. Let us 'go slow' type.
Success is the ultimate failure! We are unnecessarily blaming Rio and Himanta.
If we have exaggerated certain things; then how does one explain this puzzle?
A friend of mine from Phek district remarked, "Nobody is discussing issues in Nagaland now...Everyone wants to be with the winners - close to power and even next stage -- closer to Delhi.
Thus my friend argues: "Everyone is asking kiman pabo....Ki pabo (How much will we get and what are the specific things we will get)". Neiphiu Rio should start promising lucrative posts to those of his 17 MLAs who were denied tickets.
Take the debate a little further. The BJP never played its conversion card here or even the Hindu card.
But the same Christian community which has been strongly against 'Hindu fundamentalists' did not mind making a beeline for tickets. There were angry protests in Dimapur. A BJP leader was subjected to mob run. All for BJP tickets.
And after everything failed; people were ready to embrace LJP(Ram Vilas).
No wonder, left leaking wounds - two scholarly Netas sat at a Dimapur press conference and spoke like
philosophy professors that "the worst form of money power" is here. The journey is near the end of the tunnel.
I remember a Naga businessman in Shillong and he had lamented a few years back.
"Being a Naga, it hurts me to see some of our leaders willing to play second fiddle to a party like the BJP".
The polls 2023 has legitimized BJP and not without good reasons.
ends
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