"What audacity does the Chief Minister have, or in what capacity has he announced it, and misled the stakeholders on the status of Naga political talks?," questions the 'Concerned Naga Forum on Nagaland' (CNFN).
This is in reference to announcement made by the Nagaland chief minister on August 15 (Independence Day speech) that a Committee has been constituted headed by the Union Minister of State for Home.
Neither there is any notification in public space on the composition of the said panel; nor it is clear amongst the two MoS Home; who is heading the body.
"The Govt of India still remains silent, neither vouching for what Rio had said nor denying it," laments the CNFN statement.
The CNFN also said - "The issue relates to whether the anti-solution elements managed to set aside the agreements (that is FA and the Agreed Position) and therefore the public deserves to know the actual status of the new emissary purportedly being appointed."
"The Nagas of Nagaland in particular and Nagas in general, deserve a clear statement in this regard," it said.
Such a strongly worded statement at this juncture (post July Jantar Mantar flip flop) comes as a big embarrassment for the BJP because the Lotus party is a key constituent of the dispensation headed by NPF chief Rio.
In fact, the so-called partyless regime in Kohima has BJP legislative wing leader Y Patton as one of the two deputy chief ministers holding the key portfolio of Home.
Worse for the BJP, a party that wears its 'neo nationalism' up on the sleeves has to face allegations that the the chief minister they are supporting (or they almost created in 2018) is working in tandem or at the behest of an outfit - which stands officially banned - and is still seeking a separate Naga Flag and Constitution.
Watch out the words --
"V.S Atem, Deputy Ato Kilonser of NSCN(IM), has fully endorsed what the PAC (Rio headed Political Affairs Committee of ministers and MLAs) had resolved and the announcement of the CM.
"It is therefore obvious that NSCN(IM) has abrogated the Frame- work Agreement; it is literally discarded by NSCN(IM), Yet, as per their habit, the Chairman of NSCN(IM) Q. Toccu in his Naga Independence Day speech (Aug 14th) upheld the Framework Agreement yet again. It is the bounden duty of the group to make its political stand clear to the Nagas as to whether they have discarded the FA or are for it.
"Mind you, you are surviving due to the magnanimity of the people of Nagaland," the statement runs.
The CNFN further states:
"Not much to the surprise of the public, the State Govt, lobbied hard along with the NSCN(IM) for the removal of the Interlocutor R.N. Ravi and they succeeded, and yet to the peril of the Naga political cause. To the delight of the anti-solution lobbyists, the present Govt headed by the hon'ble CM Neiphiu Rio and the NSCN(IM) headed by Th Muivah, the interlocutor R.N Ravi was removed. But the Govt of India refused to appoint another person as Interlocutor with the political status as Ravi held.
"The prejudice of the State Govt and the NSCN(IM) had a devastating impact on the political status of the Nagas and its essential for logical conclusion, besides the issue being under-nurtured as of today," the statement says.
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"Having damaged the most valued political cause of the Nagas as cited above, these two anti-solution lobbyists continue with the ongoing efforts attempting to totally destroy the Naga political issue by means of burying the Naga political history under the debris of their avarice of suppression, oppression and pillage of the wealth of the public.
"The hard evidence of their offensive, brazen face and broad daylight destruction of our cause in the recent Govt's Political Affairs Committee (PAC)'s resolution on demanding the appointment of a Union Minister of state as the interlocutor for Naga political issue ...".
Some of the 'deeper meaning' of the CNFN statement displaying bitterness at this juncture is understandable.
** The Political Affairs Committee (headed by Rio) has so far not agreed for a meeting with sincere organisations such as the CNFN.
Understandably, New Delhi wants such a meeting to take place at the earliest.
*** Secondly, the state Govt and also NSCN-IM "reportedly" did not agree to be part of any panel to be set up by the Home Ministry. The militant group's reluctance is on the ground when talks are still on - how could the organisation be part of any panel headed by a mere Minister of State.
That's is why the CNFN says the chief minister Rio (on Aug 15th) has perhaps "misled" the stakeholders on the status of Naga political talks. (first para of this blog)
The phrase 'devastating impact' has also been used with a purpose.
There is yet another major trap:
How could a panel headed by one Minister of State (technically a Junior minister) hold talks with militant leaders and others who want to discuss things 'beyond the framework of Indian Constitution'.
If the said Minister wants to continue in office - every time matters related to Constitutional provisions would come up for discussions, the chairman of the committee will have to remind the participants that he is just a 'servant' of the Constitution.
The same argument (or restrictions) did not apply to retired officers such as A K Mishra and R N Ravi or even an independent lawyer Swaraj Kaushal in the late 1990s.
That is why comes the powerful and meaningful word 'Interlocutor' - a go-between.
The duo of V S Atem and Rio have either trapped Amit Shah badly or its the reverse swing.
Let's come back to my pet phrase -- as several Naga friends keep teasing me -- "the answer of all these questions remain in the womb of time".
One friend uses Nagamese to share his angst: "Womb tei rakhibi ... bachha paboley na hoe"
Has Indian Chanakya trapped Political opportunists ?
ends
The Failure of Naga talks also exposes New Delhi. BJP has certain limitations. There is Limitation of 'Modi and Shah. Why they tolerated all these? Were they unable to act beyond rhetorics ? -- Vijay Chauhan, Noida.
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