Accountability in Politics ......
How much Tokheho knows and what will he reveal?
Why should Nagaland peace talks be derailed or stalled? Why should interlocutor R N Ravi suddenly be moved out ?
New Delhi
Most of our readers also could be knowing that most often politics in Nagaland state revolves around mysterious Lady Luck. In other words, some of the problems and challenges are a gift of 'certain unfortunate happenings'. What is of significance is that every time we find some remedial steps are being taken to treat the ailments,some of those measures would be either misguided or taken with ill-motives by certain protagonists.
Why should Nagaland peace talks be derailed or stalled? Why should a seemingly successful interlocutor R N Ravi suddenly be moved out ?
Why should Himanta Biswa Sarma suddenly decide the fate of Naga politicians and the state itself?
In all these, personally even Narendra Modi admirers have been let down. India's most decisive Prime Ministerhas gone silent on Manipur unrest and is possibly preparing for elections 2024 without solving the Naga insurgency.
In retrospect, we have a few anecdotes to share. In 2014, Modi was more than determined to resolve the Naga problem. He had instructed the then Home Minister Rajnath Singh to work 'more than sincerely' on the same. NSA Ajit Doval was also put to work from the PMO perspective.
The good old latent battle of Khaki (IPS) and olive green (army) once decided who should be the peace interlocutor.
Rest is history. And in July 2023 -- days before the Monsoon session of parliament - there is utter confusion and also frustration. Who is rejoicing? What is the next mission, dear sirs?
Well, politics usually reflects deep cleavages and also decay in human societies.
Lok Sabha MP Tokheho Yepthomi is in news with a difference. In fact, I always found him a politician 'with a difference'. He would be frank out of turn, sharing things going out of the way; and at times not even be kind enough to respond to tele calls.
Tokheho is in news these days for missing the July 5th meeting with Home Minister Amit Shah.
For others including state ministers and even Rajya Sabha MP S Phangnon Konyak and former Rajya Sabha MP K G Kenye (now a key state Minister) it was a near historic occasion.
Why did Tokheho give the meeting a slip? If he had something personal back home, I am sorry, I am not aware of it.
The way Nagaland state politics is heading, the state is bound to find itself in alternating cycles of one crisis and the other --- and worsening in frequency and intensity with each passing year or even every quarter of a year.
The common citizens' and civic leadership's lack of planning in the face of impending political crisis and situational disasters is Nagaland's greatest crisis.
Of course Tokheho had attended the July 4th meeting at the Nagaland House wherein Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and others interacted with Mr A K Mishra. Kenye, as the Parliamentary Affairs Minister, describes Mishra and top brass from the intelligence bureau as "central officials".
Technically, no one can counter him;but politically it is a little unpalatable. Intelligence Bureau officials keep meeting people at various stages and these are part of general discussions -- often even like college union gossip.
The Hindi phrase 'Charcha karenge' goes well with such interaction. Who knows, Amit Shah might have the next day used this phrase on July 5 as well?
Let us come back to the importance of 'political accountability' and the politics around Tokheho and some of his friends. Many friends and admirers of Tokheho are almost certain that he may not get the NDPP ticket or get a chance to get elected once again to Lok Sabha - at least in 2024.
During February 2023 polls too, there was speculation on whether he could try his luck yet again from Aghunato or Dimapur III. Those also did not materialise.
Some of his friends were taken aback when Tokheho put up a few right questions in Lok Sabha vis-a-vis central funding for the Medical College. So even before reaching the bridge, he knows, he will find it difficult to cross it.
In Lok Sabha, NDPP lawmaker Tokheho Yepthomi had raised the questions.
The centre's response that Rs 171 crore was released in 2019 itself allegedly 'exposed' some skeletons of governance. Whether funds were diverted to escape the RBI embargo?
Hence, the political gossip is on expected lines. Public accountability often sends in wrong messages to political friends and foes !
Back in the nineties, in circa 1994, Tokheho Yepthomi was made a minister and given the portfolio of Transport by the then Chief Minister S C Jamir. There was a good bout of politics in all that as K L Chishi was opted out of the ministry and Jamir took over the key portfolio of Finance.
Jamir tried to keep Sema leaders in humour and hence Tokheho was rewarded along with Shikiho Sema, who was given Power portfolio.
The Power ministry had fallen vacant as N I Jamir had fallen ill and Shikiho since Feb 1993 was left sulking with the fund-crunched ministry of Higher and Technical Education.
Tokheho used to be a vocal legislator quite often. In an interview to me (1993 for 'The Nagaland Times') just a few months before getting the cabinet berth, Tokheho had expressed apprehension that the "deteriorating law and order situation" could even get the Nagaland assembly suspended.
How much does he know, and what will he reveal?
Luck, they say, is important in politics. Which way is the wind blowing this time? Late K V Pusa might have presumed the wind was still with S C Jamir and him in 2003; but it went against the duo and Shurhozelie, K Therie and Neiphiu Rio - the trio - struck it very well. Therie was the first wicket to fall around 2004-05 and now in 2023, we are almost waiting for the exit of powerful regionalist Shurhozelie.
The veteran leader now does not want to become NPF chief yet again and his pre retirement days must not be very happy as his son also could not become an MLA this time.
ends
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