[dropcap]A[/dropcap] momentous occasion in the history of the Indian nation came to pass today, whether the occasion will prove historic is another matter. But today on the fore-court of the Rashtarpati Bhawan before a crowd of 3000 plus people and a line -up of leaders from India’s South Asian neighbours , Narendra Modi was sworn in as India’s 15the Prime Minister. Along with him 45 other union and minister’s of state took their oath. The tried and tested Nehruvian ideology gave way to another, an ideology that rode in on the back of the Rashtryia Swayamsevak Sangh ( RSS) . The ceremony turned out to be one in the scale of a coronation fit for royalty !When former state chief minister Neiphiu Rio’s name did not figure as the day progressed speculations into the narrative behind Modi’s selection of ministers was an open guessing game.But analysts recall that Rio himself probably had an inkling of sorts he may not quite make the cut. The scene was more or less set after Rio’s return from New Delhi to hand over charge of Chief Minister to the CM designate TR Zeliang. Rio had hinted that while all went well in New Delhi, he had not been communicated ‘officially of any developments’. This was three days before the swearing in ceremony today. But these are early days of the Modi ministry and of the 45 ministers inducted several have been allocated more than one portfolio and there is a possibility that these may be separated to pave the way for more ministers to be inducted.
Rio not featuring in Modi’s first list is not all disaster. It only means that there is just one thing for him to do. He can concentrate solely on the promise of finding a solution the Naga political issue by activating the back channels of diplomacy and exploring ways to resolve the challenge of the past few decades of working on an “alternative formulae “ as opposed to a Naga Nation acceptable to all NPG’s and the Naga society. A decisive leadership under Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the confidence of a single largest majority is an opportunity that Nagas cannot miss. This is the moment to discuss threadbare all the aches and obstacles which have impaired past dialogues with the government of India.
