A candid Amit Shah poses brain teasers for Naga leaders

Nirendra Dev *

A common refrain about Nagaland and something whispered and spoken out only by the bravest of guys was reportedly stated by India's Home Minister Amit Shah. "Most problems in Nagaland are due to outside interference," he reportedly said in Dimapur on Jan 6th 2023.

There is another question, even after Amit Shah's 20-40 endorsement, why is celebration missing in the NDPP camp?

Union Home Minister and senior BJP leader Shah made optimum use of his few hours long stay in Dimapur during the whirlwind tour on January 6. Besides official engagements he also held a few rounds of closed door meetings with Naga leaders including Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and others. In one such meeting, he raised a few questions which are generally whispered but even central leaders avoid raising.

But a tough man that he is, Shah did not hesitate to raise a few candid brain teasers. To one participant at the interaction on the Naga flag and Constitution, he said, "Okay let me take your point, Flag is important for Nagas. But we have Nagas in Myanmar also. So should Nagas not ensure a Naga flag for them as well in Myanmar?"

The spirit of the refrain being -- Everything cannot be made an exception for a democratic India.

In fact, Shah has done such plain speaking even earlier. On Sept 12 last year at the meeting with the Nagaland Core Committee of legislators and ministers in presence of CM Rio, the Home Minister had reportedly said, "You all are talking about Naga integrity, the integration of Naga inhabited areas. But what about the Nagas of Myanmar, are you taking them on board?"

The question was pointed and obviously left the Naga delegation dumbfounded. At this one senior member amongst the 11-member panel had meekly remarked, "Sir, that's out of the box".

On Sept 12, 2022, the perceived submissive mindset of a section of leaders came in for critical observation. Shah had expressed displeasure on use of the word 'request' vis-a-vis Core Committee's future meeting with NSCN-IM to convince them to sign the final peace pact at the earliest.

One member had said, "Next time, when we go, we will request them". At this -- reportedly came the snub - "What request...no request !". The message from New Delhi --- in other words being - you better get the work done. Political analysts say the same stand has been reaffirmed yet again. Even on Jan 6 interactions, Shah referred to the oft-used phrase 'Nagas from outside Nagaland state'.

Reportedly, he told a few leaders that things need closer scrutiny. "Nagas of Arunachal Pradesh have no problems. Nagas of Manipur have no problem....living their lives peacefully in respective places. I find there are problems in the life of Nagas of Nagaland and the people are suffering. But the irony is most of the problems in Nagaland are due to interference of people from outside Nagaland," Shah had said.

Interestingly at one such meeting, Shah reportedly made a casual sort of remark trying to make light of NDPP leaders dumping the 'regional ship' and joining or keen to join BJP. It seems the Home Minister told a few NDPP leaders, " Do not worry, anyone leaving NDPP can do so only with due permission from Mr Neiphiu Rio".

Well, that's diplomacy for you in a year when Shah's 'best friend' Narendra Modi is going full steam with G20 and Diplomacy.

On ENPO's demand for a separate state, he reportedly said the "economic viability" of such demands ought to be studied clearly in detail. "At least the state Chief Secretary and DGP's salary should be generated locally through own resource mobilisation," the Home Minister reportedly remarked.

He also referred to the Modi government's decision in 2019 when the Article 370 was removed and tried to draw a parallel that even in Kashmir there was an issue with regard to the Flags.

On election boycott he said such a thing had happened even in Kashmir earlier when with just seven votes -- as the polls were boycotted - Farooq Abdullah could become Chief Minister. Needless to add in 1998, the Congress party stormed back to power with 43 of their nominees winning the polls uncontested.

Jamir became Chief Minister and none other than Neiphiu Rio became his No. 2 in the cabinet and was given the charge of Home portfolio.