Nagaland is presently going through a phase frequented by ultimatums and demands to the government from various organisations with threats of agitations on the failure of the government if their demands are not met. Strikes and agitations are part and parcel of the democratic process and are seen across the world, but the present call for the attention of the government in the state the last few months has only increased. It is felt that the response from the government is not timely. The Lotha Hoho and the Rengma Hoho has already declared for indefinite ban of movement on National Highway 2 from June 10th due to the failure of the government to commence the repair and extension of the highway. The construction of two highways, lifelines of Longleng and Zunheboto district that ran into trouble are yet to re-commence. The demand for salaries in most of the departments especially the Central funded agencies and schemes continues since last annual where some of the departments have declared that the state was unable to contribute its share of the funding. Even the organisations under NACO/NSACS the agencies spearhead the fight against AIDS/HIV are not spared in the non-release of money. The NNagaDAO, the organisation that manages the Drop In Centres (DICs) had observed the first phase of the stir with closure of all the DICs for two days in the month of May. The much publicised demand of ACAUT that resulted in the constitution of the High Powered Committee on illegal and multiple taxation in 2014 is yet to see the light of the day and further delay will only be taken as a reluctance on the part of the government to implement. The state is also currently seeing the agitation of the elementary and secondary teachers of government school demanding the total bifurcation with the Higher Secondary. The government has rightly declined and it is too soon to agree to it without proper analysis but agitation is only expected to worsen in the next few days. Likewise a day’s news is filled up by agitations demanding water supply, electricity, roads and various other basic needs of the people. In the midst of all this the morale of the people again got slapped with the failure of Kohima to get selected in the Smart City list. The situation is still under control but it has reached such levels that intellectuals will agree it just might be a precursor to a bigger storm. There is no doubt a feeling of uncertainty since the signing of the Framework Agreement between the Government of India and the NSCN(IM) which is indirectly giving some room for the government, the government that united all MLAs across party lines for the sake of the peace process. However to prolong the current scenario will be suicidal for the government as the unrests in the state will only get worst and ‘unity’ will just be in letter. It is imperative that the issues currently affecting the people be dealt with immediately to ensure that Indo-Naga peace process is not jeopardised. It will be too costly for the Nagas to lose this opportunity.
