The Nagaland state government is finally wide awake from its summer siesta to have some fun and entertainment time, lying dormant after the ULB elections only to be little active during the NH-29 landslides and the NLTP drama during the monsoon session assembly.
It’s time to prepare for the festival of festivals and the state government headed by the Chief Minister along with his protégés are travelling abroad, inking MoUs and extending invitations to sovereign nations, leaders and diplomats, determined to give global colour to their picture-perfect framed photo to be showcased in their living room and without any tangible benefits to the common people.
Even the biblical bread crumbs from the master’s table are available only for the elites. Whereas at the same time, the genuine participants of the festival are raising complaints about poor infrastructure facilities in the venue like water supply, power, logistics, mobile networks, etc. The inability of the state government and its powerful departments to provide the basic needs even for a small area like Naga Heritage Village in the year 2024 is amazing.
The Nagaland government can execute MoUs with as many countries as it likes, declaring them official partners to the 25th edition of the Hornbill festival, but without the participation of China, with the exception of Donald Trump or Elon Musk, the Hornbill festival will be a bland dish without seasoning with salt. The world may have its varying views and opinions about China but for the nagas, we cannot ignore them. Even though it may be the usual diplomatic rhetoric and speech of diversity, rich culture, hospitality, investments, etc, etc, but this time, kindly let the nagas listen to the ‘Made in China’ version, if possible. Kuknalim.
R. Francis Kikon
Nagaland Post Launch on 30 Dec 1990 is the first and fore-most english daily newspaper of Nagaland.
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