Congress debacles in Nagaland seem to have caught in the spider’s web. Consequent to introspection and re-introspection to label the culprits behind the scene (read defeat in by-polls), state PCC’s cleaning up operation have led to ‘expulsion and warning’. Yet the ‘all out effort’ for an end to their sleepless nights are not over yet. It looks as if the high command is impatiently awaiting the action taken report of the state unit. Under any situations, how can one expect the brothers to ditch each other? Moreover, the time is ripe to clear the way for family business. The guy has been talking too tough for too long and at the same time, some whispers around - the guy having T Party at the rival camp. ‘Two open I’s are not tolerable in the party. Party needs small time leaders who will blindly follow the orders and so came the orders to remove those ‘two big eyes’ (I’s).
Silence of the Nagaland State Congress Party also added to the difficulties of Ibobi Singh
Do not be scared! The surgery needed only little correction of the eyes. But the surgeon is too determined to have no future complications and so without a second opinions the ‘two eyes ‘ have been removed - a clinical process nothing to be read together with that of the expulsion of the two I’s - I Imkong.
All eyes are now on KL Chishi (who also has two I’s). The one time chief minister enjoys the strong backing of his boys. If it is the question of KLC being elevated to chief minister, his boys will be ‘All Out’ for it- cutting across party lines. It will be a bad game to remove the strong man from the party. He will slowly respond to the ‘Show’. Cause will be answered later.
Who else did ‘I’ correction? The fast man who was one time second in command of Rio? No. We are looking for more conclusive evidences. Wait and watch. Yes, it is a message to Rio to take this as a warning. We know all the undercurrents. We will make all of them vomit the biscuits and jilebis that you had fed them...!
Well, Rio, also seems to be conscious that that the Lion will not sleep quietly with wounds. If state PCC went out for taking the two ‘I’, Rio was determined for a small correction of the ‘two I’ in the neighbourhood. Mao gate incident is not easy to forget. For the Centre also the incident had left a scar. It took little time to read the situation with a different perception.
‘Ibobi’ (two I’s again) had been imposing too much with his position in the centre and cashing upon the position of Congress in Nagaland. But this time the correction was timed perfectly. It was a shock for everyone, why the state Congress unit was silent over the undemocratic stand of the Congress leader of Manipur. On the other hand, how did National parties like Congress, CPI and CPM turn out to be parochial in Manipur? Manipur is one of the first places in the country to learn the Communist Manisfesto. Comrade Irabot Singh is the foremost communist leader of India. Yet both the Communist parties became a part of the undemocratic and unconstitutional approaches. As a leader or an individual Ibobi Singh certainly can have his views on the proposed launch of NPF in the state. As a chief minister he is not expected to find undue reasons and create false impressions on the security concerns and stop a chief minister of another state from entering his state. No chief minister can allow his cabinet to endorse an unconstitutional act projecting the sectarian interest of a community to create a divide and hostility in the state and region under the pretext of ‘security’.
Both PC Chidambaram and his minister of state, Mullappalli Ramachandran knew that Nagas are understanding people and they follow sensible advices. Perhaps, Nagaland state assembly is the only one of its kind in the world where both ruling party and opposition behave in the most dignified way. Except for a minor incident when ET Ezung was the speaker, but in the chamber, the apology was heard and is a forgotten episode in the history of Nagaland Legislature. This quality of the Naga leadership was tested again by Ibobi Singh – this time holding his friendly states of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. For long years Manipur has been crying hoarse for territorial integrity of Manipur. Perhaps one may ask Ibobi Singh what he and his predecessors have done in this integrated state. The answer is likely – ‘Created disparity and disharmony’. After the all party meeting Ibobi Singh stated - “On this count, opening of the NPF unit in Manipur state at Senapati is strongly opposed by the meeting as it would lead to instability of Manipur state and spread disharmony among different communities therein.”
At the very first instance, a chief minister cannot oppose the opening of a party or party office in his state, whether it is new or recognized by the Election Commission of India.
Secondly, Ibobi’s statement on the disharmony among different communities is absurd. It was his duty as the head of the government to call all such communities, make them conscious and aware of the democratic norms of a state and rights of political parties and individuals to form unions or associations. Instead, the chief minister himself made a provocative statement that communities are opposed to Naga Peoples Front. Ibobi also cited security reasons for a person like Neiphiu Rio who is in Z Plus security cover along the stretch of NH 39. If his statements are read together it directly implicates that the communal divide and security issues are articulated together and he openly declares that there will be a communal disturbance in the state. Could it be taken as an act of intimidating sectarian violence concealed in the message? If security arrangement was indeed the reason for disallowing Rio’s presence, then why did the Manipur government send such a huge number of its forces to Mao and Senapati?
Ibobi Singh’s dominating quest led him to change the stand overnight. Congress as political party cannot accept such partisan approach and hidden threats. If Nagaland CM had asked for the explanation of Manipur CM’s statement, it would have led to serious political dimensions.
Whatever be the reasons, silence of the Nagaland State Congress Party also added to the difficulties of Ibobi Singh. The state is meant to provide security and the state cannot deny on the anticipation of a possible security scare. Ibobi would have been right if there was a communal clash in Senapati district at the time he made that statement. He could not get the sympathy of the center this time as his stand was unconvincing and did not suit to the dignity of a chief minister.
Ibobi Singh escaped unscathed in the Mao gate incidence. The parliament was in session and if such an incident had happened anywhere else, the sitting members from the state would have called for a ‘suo moto’ statement from the home minister. Video evidences are enough to clarify that Manipur Police resorted to fire without any provocation. There was no warning fire into air. Not even a single police man was injured. Unarmed women and children were attacked. Innocents were brutally assaulted. It reminded of the Jalianwala Bagh and the tyranny of General Dyer. Can any chief minister cling to his chair after such an inhuman act? Nagaland state should have pressurized the Centre to have a ‘Judicial Enquiry’ into the matter. Anyhow, in his last days of retirement GK Pillai can relax that a second disaster was averted.
This time Rio proved his mettle and did not bow down. Rather he could build an NPF office with the stones hurled at him by Ibobi and his comrades. It was a new beginning for the Nagas as a whole.
Now let Ibobi accept the fact and accept his own contentions. Perhaps, his resistance against the Naga determination for a common platform had made the will of the Nagas to unite under one umbrella even stronger. He has to accept the fact that his resistance on two occasions reinforced the Naga determination for integration and created a head ache to the Center. P Chidambaram may also find it difficult to keep his eyes shut on the lawlessness and the damages Ibobi Singh has meted out to create disturbances in the state.
Now, after this ‘I’ correction, Ibobi can read what is loudly written on the wall. Political institutions are getting stronger among the Nagas. NPF is not an ethnic or communal party, but a strong political movement. If all of his colleagues are firm, in a few decades, who knows it may become a ‘National Peoples’ Front’, with a bargaining power in the Centre.
Silence of the Nagaland State Congress Party also added to the difficulties of Ibobi Singh
Do not be scared! The surgery needed only little correction of the eyes. But the surgeon is too determined to have no future complications and so without a second opinions the ‘two eyes ‘ have been removed - a clinical process nothing to be read together with that of the expulsion of the two I’s - I Imkong.
All eyes are now on KL Chishi (who also has two I’s). The one time chief minister enjoys the strong backing of his boys. If it is the question of KLC being elevated to chief minister, his boys will be ‘All Out’ for it- cutting across party lines. It will be a bad game to remove the strong man from the party. He will slowly respond to the ‘Show’. Cause will be answered later.
Who else did ‘I’ correction? The fast man who was one time second in command of Rio? No. We are looking for more conclusive evidences. Wait and watch. Yes, it is a message to Rio to take this as a warning. We know all the undercurrents. We will make all of them vomit the biscuits and jilebis that you had fed them...!
Well, Rio, also seems to be conscious that that the Lion will not sleep quietly with wounds. If state PCC went out for taking the two ‘I’, Rio was determined for a small correction of the ‘two I’ in the neighbourhood. Mao gate incident is not easy to forget. For the Centre also the incident had left a scar. It took little time to read the situation with a different perception.
‘Ibobi’ (two I’s again) had been imposing too much with his position in the centre and cashing upon the position of Congress in Nagaland. But this time the correction was timed perfectly. It was a shock for everyone, why the state Congress unit was silent over the undemocratic stand of the Congress leader of Manipur. On the other hand, how did National parties like Congress, CPI and CPM turn out to be parochial in Manipur? Manipur is one of the first places in the country to learn the Communist Manisfesto. Comrade Irabot Singh is the foremost communist leader of India. Yet both the Communist parties became a part of the undemocratic and unconstitutional approaches. As a leader or an individual Ibobi Singh certainly can have his views on the proposed launch of NPF in the state. As a chief minister he is not expected to find undue reasons and create false impressions on the security concerns and stop a chief minister of another state from entering his state. No chief minister can allow his cabinet to endorse an unconstitutional act projecting the sectarian interest of a community to create a divide and hostility in the state and region under the pretext of ‘security’.
Both PC Chidambaram and his minister of state, Mullappalli Ramachandran knew that Nagas are understanding people and they follow sensible advices. Perhaps, Nagaland state assembly is the only one of its kind in the world where both ruling party and opposition behave in the most dignified way. Except for a minor incident when ET Ezung was the speaker, but in the chamber, the apology was heard and is a forgotten episode in the history of Nagaland Legislature. This quality of the Naga leadership was tested again by Ibobi Singh – this time holding his friendly states of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. For long years Manipur has been crying hoarse for territorial integrity of Manipur. Perhaps one may ask Ibobi Singh what he and his predecessors have done in this integrated state. The answer is likely – ‘Created disparity and disharmony’. After the all party meeting Ibobi Singh stated - “On this count, opening of the NPF unit in Manipur state at Senapati is strongly opposed by the meeting as it would lead to instability of Manipur state and spread disharmony among different communities therein.”
At the very first instance, a chief minister cannot oppose the opening of a party or party office in his state, whether it is new or recognized by the Election Commission of India.
Secondly, Ibobi’s statement on the disharmony among different communities is absurd. It was his duty as the head of the government to call all such communities, make them conscious and aware of the democratic norms of a state and rights of political parties and individuals to form unions or associations. Instead, the chief minister himself made a provocative statement that communities are opposed to Naga Peoples Front. Ibobi also cited security reasons for a person like Neiphiu Rio who is in Z Plus security cover along the stretch of NH 39. If his statements are read together it directly implicates that the communal divide and security issues are articulated together and he openly declares that there will be a communal disturbance in the state. Could it be taken as an act of intimidating sectarian violence concealed in the message? If security arrangement was indeed the reason for disallowing Rio’s presence, then why did the Manipur government send such a huge number of its forces to Mao and Senapati?
Ibobi Singh’s dominating quest led him to change the stand overnight. Congress as political party cannot accept such partisan approach and hidden threats. If Nagaland CM had asked for the explanation of Manipur CM’s statement, it would have led to serious political dimensions.
Whatever be the reasons, silence of the Nagaland State Congress Party also added to the difficulties of Ibobi Singh. The state is meant to provide security and the state cannot deny on the anticipation of a possible security scare. Ibobi would have been right if there was a communal clash in Senapati district at the time he made that statement. He could not get the sympathy of the center this time as his stand was unconvincing and did not suit to the dignity of a chief minister.
Ibobi Singh escaped unscathed in the Mao gate incidence. The parliament was in session and if such an incident had happened anywhere else, the sitting members from the state would have called for a ‘suo moto’ statement from the home minister. Video evidences are enough to clarify that Manipur Police resorted to fire without any provocation. There was no warning fire into air. Not even a single police man was injured. Unarmed women and children were attacked. Innocents were brutally assaulted. It reminded of the Jalianwala Bagh and the tyranny of General Dyer. Can any chief minister cling to his chair after such an inhuman act? Nagaland state should have pressurized the Centre to have a ‘Judicial Enquiry’ into the matter. Anyhow, in his last days of retirement GK Pillai can relax that a second disaster was averted.
This time Rio proved his mettle and did not bow down. Rather he could build an NPF office with the stones hurled at him by Ibobi and his comrades. It was a new beginning for the Nagas as a whole.
Now let Ibobi accept the fact and accept his own contentions. Perhaps, his resistance against the Naga determination for a common platform had made the will of the Nagas to unite under one umbrella even stronger. He has to accept the fact that his resistance on two occasions reinforced the Naga determination for integration and created a head ache to the Center. P Chidambaram may also find it difficult to keep his eyes shut on the lawlessness and the damages Ibobi Singh has meted out to create disturbances in the state.
Now, after this ‘I’ correction, Ibobi can read what is loudly written on the wall. Political institutions are getting stronger among the Nagas. NPF is not an ethnic or communal party, but a strong political movement. If all of his colleagues are firm, in a few decades, who knows it may become a ‘National Peoples’ Front’, with a bargaining power in the Centre.
