Then and now

There appears to be a charade being played within the hallowed portals of politics, that is nothing short of being a tragic betrayal of leaders who succumb to the seductive allure of selective amnesia, wilfully obscuring the promises once made with fervour and conviction. As the fabric of society unravels, the tendrils of amnesia weave a tangled web of disillusionment, ensnaring the hopes of a populace yearning for integrity and accountability. The once-vaunted ideals of leadership are tarnished, their lustre dimmed by the relentless pursuit of personal gain. To rewind, it was some 20 years ago and which is a long time, that, the newly formed NPF during the 2003 assembly election promised the voters in Nagaland that if it won the election by defeating the Congress, it will secure resolution to the Naga political issue within three months of coming to power. The Congress is gone and out of power and today, since 2015 it no longer has even an elected member. The state has been ruled by regional parties in alliance with the BJP, since 2003 for 21 consecutive years. Leaders of the regional parties-NPF and later its offshoot, the NDPP, were former Congressmen except for a brief stint(five months in February to July 2017) under regional veteran Dr.Shürhozelie. Now in the 21st year of a coalition government, there has been no solution There is no longer any valid explanation for non-fulfilment of such a crucial and vital promise over which the regional leaders had put their political lives on the line. Instead of one solution for all, today there are over 20 factions overall and who have become the biggest burden for the ordinary public as stated by various CSOs. Since 2015 Nagaland has carved a niche by venturing into the extremes of populism by bestowing the phenomenon called ‘oppositionless’ government or assembly. Though explained as a necessity for unity for peaceful solution; yet it remains only as good as a state political phenomenon. It is also sad, bitter, and true that today the writ of the mandated government is severely limited whether by chance or design. Today, Nagaland has been besieged by pressure lobbies in the form of organizations or unions or associations. Government offices are locked for whatever reasons. Calls for strikes and protests punctuate the air, serving as grim reminders of the simmering discontent that pervades every facet of Nagaland’s existence. Yet, even as demands are temporarily placated, the underlying tensions remain, simmering beneath the surface, awaiting the slightest spark to reignite. In the unfolding narrative of Nagaland’s quest for resolution, a poignant irony emerges: the pursuit of solutions has inadvertently sown the seeds of deeper strife, relegating governance – the bastion of transparency and accountability – to the shadows. What began as a fervent promise of swift resolution in 2003 has spiralled into a protracted saga of unfulfilled pledges, leaving a trail of disillusionment in its wake. It’s a sobering reality, tinged with bitterness and sorrow, that the hallowed halls of governance now echo with the whispers of unfulfilled promises. In the final analysis, the once-vibrant hopes for resolution have withered in the harsh light of reality, leaving Nagaland adrift in a sea of uncertainty.