I was born and brought up in Nagaland. This land has given me all kinds of opportunities in my life. If I do not express my opinion on this land and people then I am only an opportunist citizen of this land.
The Indo-Naga Issue
To resolve the Indo-Naga issue Nagas need total unity. Not fractured unity. To achieve total unity Nagas need to rise above individualism, clanism, and tribalism. Nagas should come to a common platform with a common agenda. And the central government needs to be more sincere. If the government of India and the Nagas have faith in each other it is possible to have an honourable, acceptable and final settlement of the Indo-Naga issue. Only faith can achieve this goal but not arms.
16 Point Agreement
Nagaland became a state on the 1st of December, 1963 with a special safeguarding provision in the constitution of India. This was the basis of negotiations with the Government of India and the NPC (Naga People’s Convention) leaders which later came to be known as the 16 point agreement.
Role of Political Parties
This opposition-less government was formed to bring unity among the Nagas and to be a facilitator of the Indo-Naga issue. The coalition government, called the PDA government, was formed with different political parties and the independents in Nagaland. If this Nagaland government can bring all-round development like infrastructure, economy, health, education, etc. then we can call it a successful facilitator to some extent. To run a successful coalition government depends mainly on two things: leadership quality and team work. Coalition partners of this government are equally responsible and answerable for each and every department’s success and failure.
Federalism
We need the support of the ruling party/alliance and opposition party/alliance at the centre for our all-round developments and the Indo-Naga issue. This is because Nagaland issue is different from other states. Let us all support any bill, whether in Parliament or the Nagaland Legislative Assembly, if it is for the interest of the Nagas. But let us all oppose it if is against the interest of the Nagas. We cannot always toe the party line. Article 371(A) has given us that support. That is called federalism in India.
Verdict
The recently concluded parliamentary election of India is not in favour of any political party. It is in favour of Constitution, Democracy, Secularism and Federalism in India.
P.G Banerjee
Senior Citizen
Dimapur
