Clamour grows for implementation of Frontier Nagaland promise
How the system failed to create a functioning administration?
Mon/Oting
Feared as ferocious head hunters of the mountains, Konyaks and people in Eastern Nagaland have lived isolated for centuries.
In the 1960s, a large chunk of them became part of Nagaland state and Indian union. Yet, the general lament is people have been living poverty-stricken and divided by clan and village loyalties for decades now. Thus the demand for a separate state was fuelled by anger and frustration.
Has the system failed to build a functioning state and administration? But yet the voters in Tuensang-Mon region have remained so immensely loyal to political parties and leaders run from mainstream Nagaland -- either Kohima, Mokokchung or Dimapur.
Not surprisingly the village has many regional party NPF supporters and they are also critical of the BJP and the NDPP.
Since December 2022 now there are some hopes. The people of Eastern Nagaland have been assured of an autonomous council. Hence there is new hope yet again after decades -- the Frontier Nagaland will trigger a seismic shift in people's destiny.
"Now that the Govt of India has promised Frontier Nagaland, it should come early. The Rio government in Kohima or any other forces should not delay it," says Longwang Konyak, chairman of Oting Village Coumcil.
His views were readily endorsed by the Konyak Union President Tingthok Konyak. But he says the Rio government cannot be blamed. "Even Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio understands our problems and grievances", he says. Reports say CM Rio knew him from NPF days and the Chief Minister recently urged him to join the NDPP.
People in Wangla village near Oting also say the Frontier Nagaland should materialise at the earliest. "We need good roads. You have seen how bad things are by yourself ...your vehicle would not have moved without help from our villagers," a 42-year old housewife Mrs Ellie Konyak said in reference to the hardship we faced while traveling in a Bolero on way to Oting.
Some other people in the village say Konyak people and also those in other areas of Eastern Nagaland immediately require good policy and effective works on water supply, education, agriculture and forestry and soil conservation.
Villages such as Oting, Wangla and Hongpoi offer visitors at best a collection of mud-bricked houses punctuated with roads with potholes and brown dust and where threadbare markets have some western T shirts and jeans as luxury items.
Pishang Konyak, a student in Mon town, says "In fact, statehood for Eastern Nagaland is long overdue....our forefathers should have planned and bargained hard in 1963 when they decided to be part of new state of Nagaland. Our people in terms of landscape and population helped Nagaland got state; but we were cheated and ignored".
Y. S Konyak, a retired government employee and an active social worker, told 'Nagaland Page' : "The promise was that the eastern Nagaland and rest of mainstream Nagaland will share development funds on 50:50 basis. But we were at times given only 2 to 5 percent and there was big gift of corruption".
Nyamto Wangsha - a former principal of a reputed educational institute - also wants Frontier Nagaland at the earliest but hastens to add that he has a few words of cautioning for all the crusaders as well. "We Nagas have a bad track record in governance. There is corruption and administrative slackness. The crisis in Eastern Nagaland is also a testimony to our failures...So, my word of cautioning is the Frontier Nagaland should not become another failure". Nyamto is also a member of ENPO.
He also says a lot of the problems in Eastern Nagaland have come due to faulty policies and failure in governance during the last two decades.
Mr Wangsha is therefore a strong proponent of the demand that money should be given to the proposed autonomous council directly. "If the money has to come via Kohima, then everything will end up again in Dimapur," he said alluding to corruption.
Interestingly many Konyak leaders and even younger people in their individual capacity among Eastern Nagaland tribes say projects and developmental works implemented by the centre and the Assam Rifles have better impact -- in terms of identification of projects, speed, implementation and quality in execution.
"I am neither anti-Naga nor pro-Assam Rifles. I have several complaints against them, but we all should admire how developmental works they carry out in neglected places like Oting or Naginimora. In fact, the Oting village now have an approachable road and a play ground, it is because of these forces," says C. Thomas in Mon town.
Reacting to this an Oting villager but now staying in Tizit says, "As a citizen of this state in this region I should not be commenting much on what other people are saying. Everyone knows how Nagaland government works. The central forces have been able to deliver whatever we did in last 15 months because people have accepted the force as well wishers on certain matters of development".
However, Deputy Angh of Oting Village, "Chengwang konyak, clarifies, "Do not mix up matters. The Frontier Nagaland is something we want...and about security forces what went on in December 2021, people still cannot forget the agony. Now Assam Rifles is doing some good works of development. We did not ask for it."
Before one ends this piece, one is haunted by remarks made long back by some ENPO leaders that genuine development and administrative reforms in this region have hardly been in the minds of political leaders and this club include the 20 legislators -- sitting and former ones - from the region.
Ends
Dimapur
Nagas should come out of confusion and none can help them to do so until and unless they take the decision themselves, says NDPP advisor Hukavi Zhimomi.
"Nagas are now confused...time to end this dilemma. It is clear now the Govt of India wants solution. So the onus is on us. The Nagas have to decide," Mr Hukavi told 'Nagaland Page'.
"....Finally we have to make up our mind...either we agree to agreement for a solution..or let us go back to jungles," he said.
Answering a question, Hukavi said, "The Nagaland government or Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio cannot be blamed for delay in arriving at the Solution. If you ask me, the Naga issue is not a subject matter for the state government or the MLAs".
He agreed to the view articulated by many leaders that the MLAs have their limitations to do much "because either ex parliamenterians or present and all legislators we are restricted and guided by the Constitution of India and the oath they take".
To a question, he said, "It is true the Article 371 (A) offered many things to Nagas but still the Solution is a must. The growing frustration of Naga youths and especially the educated ones is an issue of great concerns".
Mr Hukavi tried to argue that while the Constitution of India is "the best" for the country, the unity in diversity and pluralism are the biggest strengths.
To another question, he said giving away Eastern Nagaland will be another major problem or challenge as Nagas now have to "settle to work with only 40 legislators". The Solution can thus look into these issues as being highlighted by the Agreed Position inked in 2017.
The former representative from ZuAsaaqnheboto town says : "There are three kinds of people in this world.... the first group is always selfish and could be idiots by brain, second group follows Tribalism instinct but is always suspicious of others and could be ferocious and warriors too."
And the third group is 'Citizens' as defined by Greek philosophers. "They are conscious of own right.....but will respect others too.....But the root cause of our malady is we Nagas are all three," he added with his face grinning.
Ends
"Naga Talks are on track," says Pughoboto MLA Dr Sukhato
Dimapur
Notwithstanding pessimism at certain quarters, the Naga peace talks are on track, LJP (Ram Vilas)
leader and Pughoboto MLA, Dr A Sukhato has said.
"No need to think pessimistic. God always stands with those who have faith and hope....I am eternally
optimistic and Naga peace talks are very much on track. One need not give up hopes," Dr Sukhato
told 'Nagaland Page'.
"During the assembly session, I said in my maiden speech that my party, the LJP(RV) Nagaland state unit will
extend full support to Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and his government in resolving the Naga political issue
by bringing it to the much needed logical conclusion".
To a question, he said, "I have also discussed the matter with our national president and Lok Sabha MP,
Shri Chirag Paswan. We are part of the larger family called NDA under Prime Minister Narendra Modi
and it will be taken up at the level of Mr Paswan as well".
To a question whether he 'regrets' quitting BJP wherein he had risen to become state vice president and was seen as a probably state unit chief, Dr Sukhato said, "My profession and my upbringing by my parents brought me up in a different manner. I think ten or even twenty times before taking a decision. Our people in Pughoboto expected me to contest the polls this time. The seat had gone to NDPP; so I had to find a way."
He further said - "Today, I am sitting with you as a proud representative of my Pughoboto constituency.....Where there is a will, God will find you a way".
To a question, he said, "I always believe only a strong India can ensure a peaceful and progressive Nagaland. This is why I admire Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This was my plank before the voters of Pughoboto. My constituency has a legacy of deep rooted understanding of the Naga issue".
Dr Sukhato also maintained: "We all know Pughoboto is rooted in the Naga political issue since inception and
still has a very strong base...So I owe it to my people to work sincerely for development as well as for
resolution of the Naga political issue".
Asked about his future political journey, he said, "Do not forget what Hokishe Sema used to day, once a nationalist is always nationalist. If you know Nagaland's electoral politics, Pughoboto is a den of
regionalist stalwarts. You may know Late Huska Sumi...But today I represent the constituency as a LJP man
which is also a regional party with vast national footprint. Between us, I feel proud to be legislature party leader for my party the LJP. And I need not tell you, our
LJP is also part of NDA".
To another question that how would he respond to the media reports that during polls -- he was even called 'Dr Brave'; the first timer MLA remarked, "People give such names in politics out of their love. Sometime, I wonder do I deserve all that....But one thing is certain, our Pughoboto voters have high expectations from their representative, that is me and also from this present Nagaland assembly. I have been telling this to my other colleagues in the assembly both from BJP and other parties".
ends
No comments:
Post a Comment