Are our Representatives going to the people?

The killing of a couple on February 6 last in Shamator Sub-Division by unidentified gunmen when they were returning from Shamator to Kiphire should be condemned by one and all. Such heinous crime has no place in the civilized world. Such barbarism should not happen anymore. There have been reports of inter-tribal rivalries over the last one year or so. Yet, such issues had been settled through talks and reconciliations, because we cannot afford allowing such differences destroy our aged old relationships living as one family.What one wonders are the incidents that occurred in the aftermath of the unfortunate killing of the couple? There had been vandalisms in the heart of the Kiphire town targeting houses of a particular community including the one belonging to local MLA, Torechu. Under any circumstances, the kind of incident perpetrated on the couple could never be justified. But at the same time indulging in lawless acts in the aftermath of the unfortunate killing of the couple should not have happened. Such mindless vandalisms could not bring justice to the wrongs committed to the couple either. The sad part was spreading similar lawless destructions and vandalisms in neighboring Pungro areas and finally in Shamator areas. What we have been showing to the world? Are we showing that we still live in 100 years back? The most shocking was our State elected Representatives’ stoic silence and indifference. When the talks on the ongoing Naga issue seriously surfaced, many of our Representatives had mentioned their views and opinions that they should go back to their people and convey the messages of the status of the ongoing Naga peace process to them. The members, who were part of the Parliamentary Working Committee meeting Prime Minister, Home Minister and Interlocutor, briefed the Assembly. They informed the House of what Prime Minister Narendra Modi showed formula for settling outstanding Naga issue. Interestingly, they had passed resolution that they should go to the people and meet them but most of our leaders were not serious to go to their people till today. The recent incident of the unfortunate killing and subsequent lawless vandalisms in Khipire, Pungro and Shamator had clearly shown that our Representatives had utterly failed to play their parts. Many measures could have been initiated by our elected Representatives and it would not have been tough exercise. In such situation, our Representatives should rush to the spots and try to pacify the agitating villagers. What thinking one can have when our own Representatives could not share the status of the ongoing peace process? It is necessary to win over the hearts of the people and for which, they have to go to the people. But their complacency is making them lethargic losing values as Representatives. The Central leaders should also stop playing a divide-and-rule policy as it damages the social fabric of the Naga societies beyond repair. They used to give assurances to the ENPO that they would give a separate “Frontier Nagaland.” One wonders on what is the mind of the Central leaders, only God knows.T Methna Konyak