"Woh baat nahi karna" : Amit Shah on demands for Naga Flag & Constitution
Source: Nirendra Dev *

New Delhi, September 14 2022: At the crucial meeting with the Naga delegation of ministers and legislators on Sept 12, Monday.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said, "You ask for anything else...we are with you" .

But he was categorical on Flag and a separate Constitution.

With regard to the demands for a Flag and a separate Naga constitution, he reportedly remarked - "woh baat nahi karna (Please do not raise these two issues)" .

According to sources, Shah in a lighter vein reportedly also said, "one senior militant leader is from Manipur" .

Obviously this was in reference to the powerful general secretary of NSCN-IM Thuingaleng Muivah.

The Nagaland Core Committee led by CM Neiphiu Rio to meet NSCN-IM leaders after Sept 22 .

With the Centre having made it clear that the onus is on the NSCN-IM to end the stalemate and ensure an early inking of a peace pact, the Nagaland Core Committee led by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio is likely to meet the militant leaders after Sept 22 .

Sources said the much expected meeting will take place after September 22 wherein the Naga delegation of legislators and ministers will share with the ultra leaders on what transpired at the meeting between the state delegation and Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sept 12, Monday in New Delhi.

At the Sept 12 meeting, Home Minister Shah told the Naga delegation that they were approaching the "wrong man" when chief minister Rio and others were trying to impress upon the government of India to expedite the peace process.

Obviously, the centre's argument is that the delay was due to NSCN-IM and its leadership.

During interaction wherein two Naga leaders "were most vocal", the issue of extortion figured prominently.

The reference was made to the recent data revealed by the National Crime Bureau that the state of Nagaland tops the list of states for extortion and related offences.

"People are fed up with extortion in the name of peace process," several Naga leaders insisted.

Can Naga civil society press Nadda for resignation of BJP MLAs? .

In the ultimate it's the people's wish that should decide politics.

If Nagas want Solution, the Mantra is that the voters in Nagaland state should have it.

The crucial week of the month of September 2022 is here for Nagaland and the state politics.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah met the Naga delegation of legislators and ministers led by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on Monday, Sept 12 .

It was the first meeting between the key Naga panel and Shah after the July 16 meet at Kohima wherein a much important resolution on Naga peace talks was adopted.

The panel - fascinatingly called - the Core Committee for Naga Political Issue (CCoNPI) has held a meeting with peace emissary A K Mishra on Thursday.

Shortly after the meeting, it was revealed at one level that the stalled peace talks between the centre and the NSCN-IM got revived at Shillong on August 24 (the development was kept under carpet for more than a week) .

There was also a mega controversy on whether the Naga Yehzabo (Constitution) will be incorporated within the Constitution of India.

Firstly, the centre has denied any such move.

Secondly, now it has become more than clear that even Naga customary laws are not codified.

So, does merely incorporating the word 'Yehzabo' help any purpose for attaining Solution remains to be seen.

It is being suggested from certain quarters that the Article 371 (A) is a very 'accommodating clause' and it can be used to pacify the grievances of aggrieved parties.

Another crucial development could be the visit of BJP national president J P Nadda.

On the face value, Nadda or several top BJP leaders keep travelling into poll-bound states.

Recently, Nadda visited Tripura capital Agartala.

One major impact has been former CM Biplab Deb has been made saffron party in-charge for Haryana and was also made BJP nominee for the Rajya Sabha.

As Chief Minister Deb's performance has been lacklustre.

There are several complaints about BJP state unit performance in Nagaland as well.

Most of it is of course 'internal party matters'.

BJP organisation general secretary B L Santhosh recently visited the state and he shared his views as well.

The Nagaland civil society groups especially working for an early solution can perhaps take advantage of BJP national president J P Nadda's visit.

It would be appropriate for Nadda also to meet the members of the civil society.

These are all relevant as in 2018, it was the BJP which gave the slogan 'Election for Solution' .

The Naga civil society and newly floated organisations such as the Naga People's Action Committee (NPAC) can throw up a simple question to the BJP president, "Mr Nadda, was your party serious about the promise of 2018?" .

He may answer, and he may not answer.

But people of Nagaland and those taking interest on Nagaland affairs will be able to make up their mind.

Lastly, it ought to be stated that as a party, the BJP has always followed people's diktats.

Look at its decisions like removing Article 370 or getting a Ram temple at Ayodhya.

These were parts of the election promises of BJP at a time when everyone in the country believed these were only lip services.

But now they are the reality of our time.

More recently, PM Narendra Modi himself gave up his ego and withdrew the three contentious farm reforms bills.

Public pressure and general mood in the state seemed to have influenced the thought process of Nagaland legislators and ministers.

They now admit that it would be difficult for political leaders irrespective of party affiliation to face the electorate without a solution to the Naga political problem.

At the crucial meeting between Union Home Minister Amit Shah and the Naga delegation -- an 11-member core committee led by Rio on Monday -- reportedly maintained "we cannot face elections and the people of Nagaland without solution" .

This plea was countered by the Centre: "We did not delay...when did we delay? The government of India is ready to sign the peace pact even today" .

This essentially has brought the ball into the court of NSCN-IM, especially its powerful general secretary Thuingeleng Muivah, who had in 2019 raised the twin issues of flag and a separate constitution.

The Centre has rejected the demands outright.

* The sender of this news can be contacted at nirendev1(AT)gmail(DOT)com .

Comment