We are yet to see any convincing step of T R Zeliang government that suggests it is working to convey the sentiment of the Nagas to New Delhi on the Disturbed Area Act. Every move of the DAN-III confirms what the government is up to and we don’t need even the least eloquent interpreter to tell us that survival politics is its theme. To say, ‘That-is-alright-attitude’ of the DAN-III on every policy of the NDA government even if it is detrimental to the Naga interest has not only created a buzz in our society but also brought about a sense of insecurity. One thing the state government should not forget is that even if there is no issue with the development or economic aspect we will always have stiff-necked recalcitrant elements because the state government has veered.
This column has been advocating that imposition of the draconian law such as the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) is akin to suspension of civil liberties which subsequently is curtailing even the fundamental liberties of the people.
If Naga People’s Front (NPF) is going to drift from its ideological moorings then we don’t see the reason to have a Naga centric political party. One sad thing the NPF leaders are yet to realize is that due to the pernicious ideology of the bigger parties the urge to have a Naga based political party cropped up. This column had commented few months ago that by this logic, regional parties cannot be too accommodative when comes to maintaining relationships with the national political parties. We have been saying that hobnobbing with the bigger political parties with compromising approach often dilutes the sanctity of regional parties. We have been also cautioning the NPF leaders through this column that solely driven by the survival politics the NPF may lose its charm (of being Naga-ness) if accommodative politics becomes too accommodative. Accommodation of parties whose ideologies contradict the Naga interest is bound to damage the (Nagas) emotional linkage with NPF that has been developed over the years. This is not our fresh comment concerning this issue.
Today, lack of courage to keep aside its political interest in order to address the Naga interest is killing the political elegance of the cock party.
