Should responsible leaders play politics over limitless ethnic aspirations ? ::::: What's Common b/w Mizo CM and his Nagaland counterpart Neiphiu Rio ?

Is there no limit to political aspirations of ethnic groups ?

Should international and interstate boundaries be redrawn to satisfy ethnic aspirations ?  

Should responsible leaders play politics over limitless ethnic aspirations ?

"Since 1964, the Nagaland assembly has passed six resolutions advocating the administrative integration of contiguous Naga-inhabited areas, with the most recent resolution in 2018. 

'Nagaland Page'

We will continue to pursue this goal in the spirit of unity and solidarity," said Nagaland CM Neiphiu Rio in his address at the 60th anniversary celebration of the State Assembly on Oct 29, 2024. 

Neiphiu Rio 

On Sept 4, 2024 addressing a community meet in Indianapolis, US, Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma said -

"While a country may have borders, a true nation transcends such limitations. We (Mizo-Zo people) have been unjustly divided, forced to exist under three different governments in three different countries, and this is something we can never accept."  

The Mizoram CM's statement in September again made headlines in an article published in a Goa-based paper and subsequent to that Laludoma's crisis managers have apparently got engaged in'damage control' exercise and said that he actually suggested "unification" of the Zo people should be 'Under India' and not leaving/moving out. 

The centre has taken note of the developments and remarks from both the Chief Ministers. While 'damage control' exercise is one part of the story vis-a-vis Mizoram Chief Minister; mandarins suggest Rio's comments at the celebration of 60 years of Nagaland Legislative assembly was unwarranted. 

Notably Lalduhoma-led ZPM is not part of the BJP-led NEDA. The ZPM had hinted that it may support the Modi government at the centre only based on issues from time to time. 

But Rio-led NDPP is part of the BJP's alliance and the Chief Minister is enjoying power since 2018 (that is last six years) with the Lotus party as its alliance partner. In fact, he has a BJP deputy Chief Minister.  

Hence, there are reasons the centre is likely to seek 'clarification or explanation' behind both the leaders making such statements. Of course there is an interesting twist in the tale. 

In his Sept 4 address in the US, Lalduhoma lauded the Modi government and said -- 

 "I cannot leave out the Government of India as it has always listened to our pleas for assistance with a sympathetic ear, followed up on our problems and provided much needed assistance in cash and in kind. 

"I am especially grateful to the Hon’ble Prime Minister, the Hon’ble Home Minister and the Hon’ble Finance Minister in this regard."

NSCN-IM leaders - pledged 'Greater Nagaland' 

With regard Nagas, the demand for 'Greater Nagaland' was rejected by the centre. And thus now the argument put forward is that as an elected CM and as a key leader of BJP-led NDA, Rio should have avoided talking about 'unification' when the occasion was only related to the Assembly completing 60 years.  

Two things happen -- when someone talks 'out of context' - either he is ignorant or he is doing so deliberately. 

A time-tested leader Rio is hardly an ignorant leader. 

No one knows better than him what impact his statement will have in Manipur where the majority community is opposing tooth and nail any division of the state in the name of respecting territorial integrity of the state. 

The political agenda of a prominent Naga underground group also is Greater Nagalim for Christ. Is this a mere coincidence or there is a larger design ? It is any body’s guess 

Therefore, it is obvious the centre is now compelled to examine various pros and cons of the statements made by both the Chief Ministers.

While we have spoken about two Chief Ministers from two different states, the fact of the matter is the implications are felt in a third state - that is Manipur. 

The complexities do not end here.  

"Some groups in Mizoram had been demanding separate administration of the Zomi in Manipur since long, much before the May 3, 2023 clashes between the Kuki-Chin and the Meitei," says an article in 'Imphal Free Press'.  

There are issues of smaller communities and their relations with Kukis.  

"The Thadou have been claiming that they are not Kuki and perhaps rightly so but it will be impossible to segregate the Thadou or Khongjai from the Kuki, except through a rigorous NRC process as the late comers have a tendency to identify themselves as Kuki. Even Paites were not included in the ST list when the first list for Manipur was notified and added later on," -- this is what the article says. 

The writer of the piece R K Nimai says:

"... one is forced to infer that the violence in Manipur was the outcome of the idea of a Christian state comprising parts of Bangladesh, India and Myanmar and the weak kneed response of India in trying to protect its interest in Myanmar fully dominated by China". 

Modi and Chinese Prez Xi Jinping - 2019 

'The Goa Chronicle' newspaper report also says that  - "The notion of creating a Christian-majority state, spanning parts of India, Myanmar, and Bangladesh, taps into a recurring fear in South Asia...

: that foreign powers may be exploiting internal divisions for strategic purposes."

Time to pull up sleeves. 

ends