All for none

 Nearly ten days after the opposition Naga People’s Front (NPF) caused a huge sensation through a press statement that it has agreed to join the government and claiming that this was in response to the invitation from the ruling Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party(NDPP); the spontaneous reactions have been fast and furious. Statements from political parties such as Congress, National People’s Party(NPP) and the nascent Rising People’s Party(RPP), practically described it as meaningless and shameless. An all-party government or even an opposition-less assembly does not, by any stretch of imagination, serve to bring the Naga political issue any closer to solution from its state of suspended animation. As commented earlier in this column, legislators from both ruling and opposition bench have and will always be united for the Naga political issue. Even the two Naga political groups who were holding negotiations, have signed their respective Framework Agreement(August 3,2015) and Agreed Position(November 17,2017). The talks officially concluded on October 31,2019 though a few issues were to be pursued and resolved through democratic process post solution. That officially talks have concluded had spurred high hopes and a lot of expectations that Modi will deliver on his words and live up to his reputation as the promise keeper. That was what the government of India’s Interlocutor to the Naga Peace Talks, R.N.Ravi stated, after being appointed as Governor of Nagaland on July 20,2019. Ravi had candidly said he was sent to Nagaland with a mission for solution. Now that the expected solution has been kept on the backburner those who believed that solution was imminent, are left wondering what happened and why has Modi developed cold feet? Either Ravi was not being truthful or that Modi has decided that he is actually not in a hurry. Having everybody on board for Naga solution, is a popular phrase which has been swallowed hook line and sinker. Everybody will be on board for solution, irrespective of their individual or political differences. However, solution may not mean the same thing for everyone. For ordinary people, solution means an end to mindless violence, killings, disruption of life, destruction of property end to the rule of gun and beginning of peace and rule of law. The Naga political issue was birthed with blood in Naga Hills(Nagaland) where countless have died, many children orphaned, victims continue to suffer physical and mental scars and many families devastated. Negotiations that have taken place for over 24 years should either end in either solution or no solution. Overwhelmingly, voices of the people is for peace with dignity and honour. Decades of killings and divisions has led to the political issue being turned inwards, causing immeasurable damage to the people mentally, politically and economically. The intention of the elected members is noble; many of them feel the pulse of their people. However, it is time for them to have a serious relook at whatever they have been doing since 2003 and what was achieved with the word “equi-closeness” policy vis-à-vis “equi-distance” policy? Presently, the justification(s) for an opposition-less assembly and an all-party government- purportedly to inspire Naga groups to come together or sending a strong message to Delhi for early solution; betray the same irony of still trying to sound politically correct at a time when reality should awaken them all on the blind alley ahead.