Highlighting common issues : Noting NESO's stand
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: March 27, 2013 -

A common destiny.

This is precisely what the North East Students’ Organisation, a conglomeration of different student bodies of the North East region has highlighted, wittingly or unwittingly, in its series of demands raised before New Delhi.

Look beyond the issues raised and it should be clear to everyone that there is a common thread running through all the people of the region, drawing a common pattern.

Underlining a basic fact, but which has more often than not been clouded by the forces of push and pull.

It is this crucial point that should register in the consciousness of all the people, for they are the stakeholders.

The Armed Forces Special Powers Act, large scale infiltration into the region, racial profiling of the people, rape and molestation of women by armed forces personnel, different time zone for the region, expediting the peace processes which the Government has entered into with different armed groups, visa problem, economic and infrastructural development etc.

These are the issues which NESO has raised and look beyond the demands raised and it becomes clear that the issues hounding the region are unique in their own ways.

Given its geographical location, it should not be surprising that influx of outsiders, particularly migrants from Bangladesh should be a major cause of concern to the people.

It is not only about large scale influx from a neighbouring country, but is also more about protecting the identity and resources of the indigenous people.

Take this observation to a different level and it could also be seen through the prism of vote bank politics playing havoc with the lives of the ordinary people here.

It is on issues like these that the people need to forge a united stand and NESO has just managed to convey this message by organising simultaneous sit-in-protests across the seven States of the North East region.

An important point has been underlined and it would be interesting to see whether this point can be raised to the next level or not.

Identify more common ground, more common issues for the people to come together and live up to the understanding of a common destiny.

How Delhi respond to the issues raised by NESO will no doubt be very important, but in a sense, it may be said that the student body has managed to work something out in favour of the people as a whole, by bringing them together at least.

This is something which should not be lost on anyone, especially to the people who are in the public domain.

The harsh reality, of course, tells a different story as there are differences amongst the people and competing interests.

This reality cannot be wished away that easily, this is a given, but in dealing with these differences, it is equally important to note that there are issues which are common to all the people of the region and it is this which should be appreciated and understood.

The common thread weaving through the differences.

The question of whether the differences should be allowed tear the people apart or whether the common issues should bring the people together, is important in the backdrop of the reality that is the North East.

No easy answer here, for the question here is complex, given the presence of numerous ethnic groups, each asserting its own political, social and economic interests.

The presence of some elements who thrive on highlighting the differences has only gone on to add to the complexities.

This is the reality and all the more reason why NESO’s stand has come like a fresh breath of air.