Imagine how will BJP react if AAP raises Referendum bogey in Punjab
The 'unmaking' of Chingwang Konyak
New Delhi
The long shadow of despotism is hanging over.
This may not be entirely new in Nagaland but the present day masters in every generations show this tendency -- why should we give up, why should we admit 'we have failed'?
Pigeons or deer often do it; they hide their face presuming others may not see them. But hunters do not fail, so does the time machine.
The date with destiny cannot be postponed forever. Why should NDPP continue to enjoy all the fun?
The Naga issue keeps hanging. Major stakeholders by design or default or otherwise have failed despite the talks; and Chingwang Konyak, NDPP president, now says there should be a referendum. If it is so, Mr Chingwang, why did you join overground politics ? At this ripe age, you are talking the language of underground leaders.
They are in their senses and right to say so; but you are part of the ruling elite. You are there as NDPP chief for over five years. Your Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio is at the helm for 20 years swearing in the name of Indian Constitution.
So if anyone has failed Nagaland, its your leadership, Chingwang-Rio leadership !
And I find it quite unusual because it has come from a 'nationalist-turned-regionalist' like you.
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| Blogger with Chingwang: File snap |
Remember AICC general secretary Sushilkumar Shinde, who once unhesitatingly said, "We have a staunch nationalist pradesh Congress president in Nagaland". He meant Mr Chingwang Konyak.
One remembers the mid-nineties -- quite tough days, people used to be kidnapped and killed; army-militants clashes were regular, Mokokchung burnt once, travel between Kohima and Dimapur in evening hours were unpredictable.
Yet Mr Chingwang stood firm. He had said, "We are the bridge between underground and the centre". And in 2024, NDPP chief has referred Referendum.
Always a soft-spoken man, but he stood by some principles.
Even Chingwang's bitterest political opponents gave him credit in the past for his moral courage and defiance, but what has changed in the last few weeks that the entire political language has changed.
Take three statements together. One each from Chingwang, Tokheho Yepthomi and Azo Nienu -- one thing is clear, the NDPP-BJP's 'opposition less template' won't work.
Chingwang and Tokheho also imply there has been no development. So where did Modi's generous funding go?
Did it reach any neighbouring state?
'Nagaland Page'
The failure of present leadership in the state, confusing manner of handling of the issues by AK Mishra and his negotiating team also including IB officers and perhaps an absence of 'Naga issue doctrine' of the Modi government have been interpreted as a failure of the entire process of Peace Talks that began in 1997.
This is very much a doubtful proposition.
And this to an extent amounts to saying --- "Well, we have failed, but we have all the rights to be still in office".
The 'soft and the hard' labels vis-a-vis Naga issue is not the core issue. For obvious reasons, the core Naga political issue cannot vanish. But sincerity to resolve it counts.
The faceless Naga voters might have been reprimanded for 'accepting' money and Bolero culture during elections as political reality; but nevertheless they also showed some trust in the leadership of Narendra Modi.
People presumed -- with or without Neiphiu Rio and Hon'ble Mr Chingwang, the Naga issue can be resolved.
Hence in many quarters, people voted for the saffron party candidates irrespective of the pro-Hindu tag attached to the BJP. But what did they get?
The BJP leaders in Nagaland and in northeast including neo-hardliner nationalist Himanta Biswa Sarma should take cognizance of Chingwang's statement and report matters to the Ministry of Home Affairs and PMO.
Mr Modi met the Chief Minister recently. Modi's authority and prestige are yet again at stake.
Governor La Ganesan can easily summon the Chief Minister Rio to explain to him why should Chingwang Konyak turn into a "neo-statesman and a kind of a Left-liberal newspaper columnist" and make such remarks.
If some people presume, they are the smartest people under the sun; it's time to show the mirror.
The BJP leaders like Y Patton and M Chuba Ao have all kinds of political compulsions of keeping the alliance partner happy. Himanta may have his new found friendship very dear and costly; but they should not forget they have a BJP-led government in the centre. There is something called national obligation.
The state Congress and AAP leaders can refer the matter to the Election Commission as talking about referendum cannot be a normal language of a political party which has to follow some norms as set by the poll panel. More so in a border state. Imagine how would BJP react if the AAP says the same thing in Punjab.
One has seen many staunch Naga regionalists from Shurhozelie to Huska Sumi; but we do not remember any one of them using such strong words.
ends
Nagaland leg of Rahul Yatra : Search for the Congress relevance
Golden opportunity to revive Congress was lost b/w 2004 and 2014
New Delhi/Kohima
"Invincibility lies in the defence; the possibility of victory in the attack".
It's paradoxical, and a bit historical. A party which ruled Nagaland for years and was graced by nationalists such as Hokishe Sema, S C Jamir, J B Jasokie -- and many of them sustained bullet injuries, the same Congress has lost its relevance in Nagaland.
In two subsequent assembly polls - 2018 and 2023 the Congress score has been zero. The 2023 performance had a more truthful message. All parties contesting the polls this year in Nagaland -- likes of little known RPI (Athawale) and LJP (Ram Vilas) could open their account; but Congress scored zero.
India's grand old party contested 23 seats out of 60 and total votes polled was 40,810. The vote share being 3.56 per cent. Compared to it, NCP's vote share was 9.56 (7 seats). National People's Party of Conrad Sngma 5.76 - 5 seats, Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) 8.64 - 2 seats and Republican Party of India (Athawale) polled 3.69 percent of votes -- also won 2 seats.
The name or word Congress does no longer evoke excitement in Nagaland politics these days. The near dismissive phrase is -- "hoisey ho...alsi asey (roughly could mean -- It's all over, what else will happen).
In national politics too, the Congress has been unable to electrify its cadres and hence slowly, it fazed out in many parts of India.
So, what's the relevance of Rahul Gandhi's 'Nyay Yatra' in Nagaland? Some answers lie best either in silence or in the womb of time.
Looking back, one can say the golden opportunity to revive Congress after the setback of 2003 was between 2004 and 2014 -- when the UPA was in power.
As Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, incidentally then a MP from Assam, did not visit Nagaland. The ultimate push to resolve the Naga issue was not there even as some attempts were reportedly made by K Therie; but the idea was rejected with some kind of warning by stakeholders.
Thus, Rahul enters Nagaland when every Congressman and woman -- the last surviving ones and their sympathisers - find themselves at the heart of a conflict.
Fury and frustration, not grief, are the public sentiments now. The blunders and non performance of a father are as if suddenly visited upon the children. Memories may still glamorize the past; but Life has speeded up without making the protagonists aware of it.
Corruption as a habit has passed on to new rulers; and yet there were hopes raised in 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Tokheho Yepthomi of NDPP almost lost to Congress candidate K L Chishi.
The former Chief Minister says his trial and error will continue; but it is a fact that such enduring fighting spirit almost revived Congress.
But once 2019 Lok Sabha polls were over, the Congress leaders retired into their respective personal backstages. The Chishi-Therie duo was hardly a Team.
Prior to that in the run up to the general elections, Chishi was ably supported and 'extended help' by outside political elements. A few former legislators including Hukavi Zhimomi and Asu Keyho were in their pro-active roles. The Congress leaders never thought of sharing a few moments of political solidarity with them once the elections were over.
Asu is now the state unit president of AAP while Hukavi has swallowed his anti-Rio spirit with the black tea sitting in his riverside house at Dimapur.
Even as we pen these lines, one has not heard of any AAP-Congress coordination in Nagaland.
Both Asu himself and present Nagaland pradesh Congress president Supong Meren are from NSF background; yet till date no meeting ground ! And elections are not far off.
Rahul Gandhi's visit and Yatra have all the potentials for selfies and VVIP darshans; but can there be anything more?
If in national politics Narendra Modi is blessed with the confused Opposition leadership and lacklustre Congress; are two former Congress leaders Chingwang Konyak and Neiphiu also are blessed Netas -- when Chishis and Theries are more active in fighting each other?
The NSF background boys Asu Keyho and Supong Meren must revive their activism of youth; they owe it to themselves.
We are often what we pretend to be, so we must be careful. Sincerity is a true measure of the fighting spirit.
ends
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