[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Modi euphoria in Nagaland has evaporated in minutes. It was a big disappointment for the state government as well as the people. No packages were announced. The Prime Minister also did not touch the area where the people have been dying to learn—the Naga political issue. He came, showered loads of praises to the Nagas and just left.
Indeed, the Prime Minister did not come for a business or political meeting. Mr. Modi came to celebrate the Hornbill Festival on the invitation of the Nagaland government. He just played his part as a good guest to the host. He enjoyed the Naga hospitality. He celebrated the festival and done.Meanwhile, one lesson has been taught to the state government by today’s episode. Diplomacy does not work with Narendra Modi. We invited him to celebrate the festival so Mr Modi just obliged.
On November 30 upon his arrival in Dimapur from Imphal, Narendra Modi had told the BJP workers of Nagaland that “it is not necessary for the Prime Minister to grant packages to any state whenever he visits” while opining that if that trend continues, it would be difficult to bring any development to the country. He said should any help is required by states from the Centre, it could be channeled through the budget.
Here, Narendra Modi has sent out a strong message that the hanky-panky dealings should become a matter of history and the journey of new era of ‘Clean India’ has begun. Narendra Modi also would like the state government to learn the art of judicious spending of development funds. Let us hope that the state government becomes wiser by this experience with Mr Modi.
Now, the TR Zeliang government ought to find ways to convince the Central government to bail the state out from the deep financial crisis it is experiencing at the moment. The Rs 1234 crore deficit is really a huge burden to the state government.
