The big picture

 Ravi’s frank appraisal on the way forward towards concluding the over 20-year long and protracted negotiations between the government of India and the Naga groups has cleared the mist and appear to place the onus on the Naga group(s) to give the nod and to heed to the desires of the people. In addition, Ravi’s analysis of the role of legislators, especially those who are running the government since 2003 till today, also supported the view expressed in this column over the years about the political red herring. Politicalspeak is a red herring which seeks to deflect attention from the failures. It also belies the resentment of people against being taken for granted by their leaders who seem to believe that passing such resolution after resolution on the issue is their biggest contribution. These expose the greatest tragedy confronting Naga society today- a perplexing veneration of profane politics that is bereft of the rudder of rationality. Naga society has been hemmed in by polarized politics with politicians, both in or out of power, routinely resonating the cacophony of the call for “unity” for peace and solution. Both “unity” and “peace” is about promoting a free society, where various sections live in understanding and consequently , creating harmonious environment. This newspaper had, on several occasions, opined that legislators in the state seem to believe that by mouthing politically correct phrases, they have done the people a great service. While solution to the Naga political issue is very crucial, it is one among many other concerns the people. In the light of several resolutions calling on the government of India to hasten the process or backing any such resolution that is “honourable and acceptable to all sections of society’ and calling on all sections of society to unite for peace; these cacophony of political hype and hyperbole in Nagaland does little to mitigate the people’s undercurrent of despair. The other is about the proliferation of groups which is revealing. Also, the rampant extortion and syndication especially in Dimapur which have practically spelt doom for economic growth. The outward signs cannot hide the inward problems. These signs do not augur well for society in the long run. The government’s role in this is to effect good governance which they have been promising to people during elections. The sky wouldn’t have fallen on the government’s head had it taken a little more time to engage all these concerns. On solution to the Naga issue, governor of Nagaland and Interlocutor to the Naga peace talks R.N.Ravi had disclosed that it is nearing a conclusion and can be inked anytime, when the group(s) decide to do so. The issues that has not been resolved are over the demand for a separate Naga constitution and Naga flag. It is now left up to the negotiating sides to conclude the deal as this is not in the menu of the state legislators. Be that as it may, the elected need to seriously ponder over what their role is. They need to put their heads together to address various social and economic problems faced by Nagaland otherwise the situation could seriously complicate the environment to the extent as today, no one in Nagaland really feels confident enough to say that the future is bright.