Recently I shared a data with an Angami friend from Southern Angami.
I said Nagaland Chief Minister is the 'fourth richest' Chief Minister in India. "Misa na kobi na" -- he responded.
He reminded me our old friend in All India Radio, Kohima -- of 1990s. -- Mr Zhasa.
Once 'evening hours' he lost cool with a Bihari typist for typing Jamir -- with small 'j'.
Zhasa screamed - "Do not insult Nagas". The typist was a smart operator. He kept silent and gazed towards me. I indicated that Zhasa was already in 'evening mood'. He continued to keep silent. Zhasa smelt the rat and he turned towards me and said "Mr Nirendra ... you pay me Rs 100 for drink. I am angry. This typist has insulted Nagas".
The matter ended.
Now my new friend from Southern Angami is not at all convinced that Chief Minister Rio has properties and cash - worth Rs 46.95 crore. He countered - Indian media is always biased.
"Do not insult Nagas ..," he said suggesting such a paltry sum may be even with half a dozen MLAs.
I still tried to convince him saying that the data has come Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), -- and its not a media house. It is not linked to the RSS or any temple trust.
It deals with all these statistics throughout the year and goes by whatever is available on papers. I told my friend - as a north-easterner he should be happy that --
Pema Khandu, at just 44, is the wealthiest politician in the Northeast and the second richest CM in India.
My friend gave another googly -- "Pema Khandu is an ex Congressman and joined BJP. Rio is also an ex-Congressman but he joined regionalist and is still leading and financing NDPP - a party floated only in December 2017".
My experience with Nagas has been; if you open up the other side will surprise you with pots full of information.
The dialogues then have the 'keys' on the locks of imagined thoughts as well. But there will be pre-condition in most cases -- the philosophy and ideology could be 'conditioned' too.
He my friend lament was - many northern Angami business people and contractors have grown 'richer' since 2003 but "nothing much happened with Southern Angami people".
Coming to ADR revelations -- Khandu has declared assets worth Rs 332.56 crore, and is the nation’s second-wealthiest chief minister.
Neiphiu Rio with assets amounting to Rs 46.95 crore, occupies the fourth position in the national ranking.
According to ADR, TDP chief and Andhra Pradesh chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu tops the list with assets of over Rs 931 crore.
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| A happy cabbage farmer in Garo Hills, Meghalaya - my discovery in 2023 |
At present there is a challenge before the Modi government on economic front. This is also the time when stakeholders in Delhi and in India's security establishment are talking much about 'shadow economy' that is driving insurgency 'again' in the north east. Obviously the Govt of India wants to fight that strongly. There is an old saying -- Every crisis in effect can produce a system with greater resilience and stability.
India is looking for that 'resilience' and effective leadership at this moment. But all these may come at the cost of some flexibility, as they put it.
**
Notably, the Northeast India’s representation in the list of rich chief minister does not stop with these two.
Assam’s Himanta Biswa Sarma, with Rs 17.27 crore in assets, ranks ninth.
Meghalaya’s Conrad K. Sangma, with Rs 14.06 crore, completes the top ten list.
In comparison, Tripura’s Manik Saha declared assets worth Rs 13.90 crore,
Mizoram’s Lalduhoma has around Rs 4.13 crore.
Sikkim’s Prem Singh Tamang approximately Rs 6.69 crore.
A report in 'Ukhrul Times' states another interesting line --
"These figures highlight both the concentration of wealth among some leaders and the wide disparity among others in the region."
My southern Angami friend refers to these points and said in his unique style:
"Problems are complex. We have to approach the problems in the spirit Wrong is wrong even if everyone is doing it.... and also Right (correct) is right even if No One is doing it".
I think overall - I understood what he implied and hence I started appreciating his understanding of the issues and especially the manner he explained it to me.
Our discussions went on.
He then tried to give his reasoning.
My friend said there is a "sharp dichotomy". It is like rules-driven lives of hostel boys. In public life -- everybody will talk about fighting corruption. Everybody will say Corruption in north east is a 'discovery' from India as a menace. But in private life at home --
the wrong-doer child and a father will be "pampered and protected and hence will be further spoiled".
And then he almost flattered me when he said --
"I like Nirendra when you keep talking about Boleros. This is where we have gone wrong. Even my wife has cousins with multiple Boleros and she curses me. And look at me -- I do not have a good house even".
I could sense - a sense of hurt in his heart. A sense of defeatist.
Some where our discussions had to come to an end.
I said - "I am getting late..".
He smiled. This time there was little bit of Vodka impact.
"Well, what's happening around Putin and Modi may be good. What's happening in Nagaland ... may be like a blessing in disguise. My state may soon get a wake up call ... fro heaven or hell only time will answer".
"Safe journey Dev.... Namoskar", he said with sincere love and affection in his voice and eyes --- something I miss a lot in India's national capital.
ends
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