Homage to ex Nagaland CM Vamuzo on his 25th Death Anniversary

Nirendra Dev *

Two things essentially described the regional doyen - a hardcore anti-Congress and a decisive man. He was also the first Naga leader who befriended George Fernandes and also the BJP.

Born: 1938, breathed his last on March 22, 2000 (at the young age of 62 years only)

Late Vamuzo, a regional party doyen and former Nagaland Chief Minister, had claimed that on two counts the Congress party had faulted in a big way in Nagaland - and the grand old party or any important leader in the state of elsewhere never said sorry to Nagas for doing those.

One - the Congress government and Governor L P Singh had imposed the controversial Shillong Accord in 1975 resulting in much infighting and bloodshed among Nagas.

Secondly for continuing to support the Chandrashekhar government after it had banned NSCN along with the ULFA.

On this issue, Vamuzo even dropped all Congress ministers from his ministry.

Lately, close on the heels of announcement of June 25th as the Samvidhan Hatya Divas in 2024, a few Naga leaders told me on the condition of anonymity - "The Shillong Accord is a legacy of the Emergency period and Indira era and it is true that this had divided Nagas and also resulted in misunderstanding among our own people and bloodshed".

"Who can forgive this?," said another leader who also claimed that PM Narendra Modi has the "guts" to turn the table vis-a-vis the public perception and resolve the Naga issue.

At some point personal and political weakness caught up with Vamuzo. In 1990 he joined hands along with his brother-in-law Thenucho and the Congress party and the short lived Chishi ministry was toppled. His long time regionalist friend Chalie Kevichusa parted ways.

Vamuzo became Chief Minister and S C Jamir was the Protem Speaker because the then Speaker T N Ngullie joined the Vamuzo ministry as a cabinet minister. Thenucho became Speaker and the rest is history.

Notably, one should mention along with nine others, incumbent Nagaland CM Neiphiu Rio was disqualified under Anti Defection Law by T N Ngullie and later Speaker Thenucho revoked the order giving the 10 legislators their political career back.

We often say in democracy, the will of the people manifests itself through regular and time-bound elections. But the Neta class also play their games in the corridors of power and often leave things and their words to reflect upon even after years. Around 1994-95, once S C Jamir said on the floor of the assembly, "Mr Speaker Sir, in Naga politics, I think, I made only two mistakes...".

As he uttered these words everybody including those in the press gallery were more than attentive. Maybe there was a breaking news on cards. But Jamir surprised everyone when he said -- "One mistake was I made Vamuzo the Chief Minister and later in 1993, I made K L Chishi the Finance Minister".

Needless to add, both were present in the House and both were furious. On different occasions both the leaders reacted. Chishi said Jamir thought everyone else around him is a 'pawn'.

Vamuzo was usual flamboyant - "You are a habitual liar" - he told Jamir straight. Vamuzo and Jamir were bosom friends personally. Once during a heated argument in the House, Jamir said something only a true friend can tell another truly yours. "I don't know Sir, why this dull fellow is sitting here".

Result was equally surprising. Both started laughing and Vamuzo also remarked - "We know each other too well".

Vamuzo had befriended the one-time Speaker of Manipur assembly - Dr Haobam Borobabu singh. The then Manipur Speaker hit headlines more than once when he took on the Guwahati High Court and at times even the Supreme Court. On one occasion, Vamuzo said: "I often encourage Dr Barababu Singh -- after all he is taking on the powerful Congress establishment".

In the national politics, Vamuzo was a great friend of Late George Fernandes and he (Vamuzo) also attended BJP's national executive meet as a special guest in Mumbai in 1995 when he was honoured with a Kashmiri shawl by none other than L K Advani.

Notably, the Congress leaders these days would go to any length to dismiss the Modi regime as a dictatorial one but they forget their heydays in power.

How 'arrogance' was used to bulldoze democracy !!

Here are a few samples on the imposition of President's Rule in 1992 depriving Vamuzo the 'caretaker position'.

The 'Indian Express' edit of March 30, 1992 - "Congressmen should ponder the damage the politics of defection they have encouraged has done to the northeast and whether such politics and the attendant corruption constitute an engaging advertisement of the merits of parliamentary democracy.

# "The real ground for the Centre's resentment (against Vamuzo and then Governor M M Thomas) is the fact that, for the first time in recent years, a Governor has dissolved the state assembly, in exercise of the powers under Art 174 (2-B) without reference to the centre". - A G Noorani, 'The Statesman' April 2, 1992

As the Chief Minister and Working President of NPC, during the Lok Sabha poll campaign 1991 he took me on his campaign trail to Mokokchung, Tuensang, Zunheboto and Wokha districts. It was an experience to count on later in framing my understanding about Nagaland state politics.

He used to be frank and also counseled at times, "Do not write much on the underground, it is only blame giving syndrome for now. We are also in blame giving, but between me and Jamir and other Congress leaders we are very good friends at personal level".

So much was the "influence" of students’ power in Nagaland that in 1990-91 they influenced chief minister Vamuzo’s “superannuation policy” and the retirement age of Nagaland government employees were brought down to 57 years.

Even a fellow regionalist politician B B Lyngdoh, then Meghalaya chief minister, had criticized Vamuzo for giving such “undue importance to students”.