Z. Lohe
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he gist of the statements of participants in the Govt. sponsored Consultative meeting on 26.9.2014 was out in local papers. Leaving the less controversial agenda, I have the following observations solely based on the press report on NSDZ. Most of the speakers shared their apprehension of the influx of only Illegal Bangladeshi Immigrants (IBIs) and other Indians into Nagaland when NSDZ is implemented in the present form. Many of the speakers seemed to be neither aware nor serious about it or knowing fully and still preferred to remain sycophant of the powers that be in regard to land rights of the indigenous people of Nagaland State under the ‘Nagaland Land and Revenue Regulation (Amendment) Act 1978’. This Act does not talk about IBIs or other Indians, but all the land rights are exclusively, rpt. exclusively and comprehensively reserved for the Nagas of Nagaland, which means those of the only Nagas who have ancestral land in Nagaland will have property rights over land and its resources within the State of Nagaland. In other words, be it IBIs or anybody who does not have ancestral land in Nagaland cannot become the proprietor of immoveable property as I understand the Act.As of now, a battle is raged between a public movement spearheaded by NTC joined by likeminded people and DAN Govt. over the issue of NSDZ which will definitely dilute the protective Acts when implemented. While the theoretical tussle is on, there has already been practical invasion and annexation within with highly sophisticated designs and also our borders are being encroached. Thus, when our limited area of lands are being rampantly encroached by outsiders it is ironic to observe that DAN is still insisting that sharing our land with others be legalized in the guise of NSDZ.
Reportedly known that absolute majority of the invitees disagreed with the Assembly resolution on NSDZ, and yet such opposition in the Consultative meet failed to deter DAN Govt. from going ahead with it as the Chief Minister assured that a Committee would be constituted for the same. That has made the Consultative meet flimsy and futile as the majority opinion failed to make DAN Govt. hesitant to insist on NSDZ.
The other observation is the undermining of the Assembly resolution on NSDZ by the MLAs themselves branding it as ‘vision paper’ and some others privately calling it ‘nothing official’. For the first time, a resolution adopted by the House unanimously without any MLA or a section of MLAs staging a walk out from the session in disagreement on such issue is brought back to public domain for scrutiny, and still open for further scrutiny according to CM has effectively divested the sanctity of the highest institution. The strategy of backtracking has dented the supremacy of Legislative authority.
Another issue of concern is the intention of the CM to amend ILP Regulations by relaxing 15 days period to 6 months. We better be more cautious on such intention as paper tiger regulations will not protect us from influx. It is observed that the CM has reiterated that his Govt. will have ‘thorough and comprehensive relook at all land laws, rules and regulations’ indicates risky trend and speaks volumes of what this Govt. can do to the future of the Nagas of Nagaland. Does not this Govt. have other assignments except to erase protective laws?
Be it anybody, but always trying to blame our existing laws for backwardness and retrogression in development is nothing but escapism. Even if we have more stringent laws than what we have, if there is leadership of God fearing, with honesty, probity and determination, and if we have efficient and honest bureaucracy, those laws would never pose roadblocks to developments. Not because of any or of the said laws that few industries in Nagaland failed but all those failed because of corruption. Better stop taking the laws as excuse for non-performance.
My final observation is on the apex Naga Hoho which ‘neither oppose(s) nor support(s) the proposal(NSDZ) at this juncture”. What a wisdom of Naga Hoho! It reminds me of late Indian PM PV Narasimharao who was once asked of his indecision. His retort was ‘Indecision is a decision’. To Naga Hoho, NSDZ is neither good nor bad, neither harmful nor harmless and neither useful nor useless. The neutrality speaks the reasons louder as for what Naga Hoho, to which every Naga looks upon as the mentor and guide, has to always keep its tail tucked firmly in between two legs. In that position, Naga Hoho will neither go to hell nor to heaven but to purgatory.
