‘Development, events, peace – overhyped & overrated’ says poll
Dimapur, Dec 31 (MExN): For a government flying high on the wings of development and over-hyped claims of relative peace, the Naga people continue to circle over this hackneyed but ever-relevant one-word-question – Peace? The miniscule question mark alongside one of the most significant single words in human language, made all the difference in the recent The Morung Express Poll where an overwhelming 61% lay waste DAN government’s seemingly indomitable development-maker image. The ‘mess’, in Nagaland, also found blame on the hands of Naga undergrounds. Ironically, the MEx question offered little nuances of anything that pointed to “development” or for that matter, and most importantly, “peace”.
The question “Was 2006 a good and blessed year for Nagas” bagged a tepid 30% of “yes” from those agreeing while the rest 9% whispered a hushed, skeptical ‘maybe’. Suddenly, “peace” in Nagaland or the lack of it, made all the difference for the 61% who refused to ride the Nagaland-is-peaceful bandwagon and choose to scream “No, 2006 was NOT a good and blessed year for Nagaland!!” The disgruntled vocals could be heard through out their voices in the poll.
One voter, among those who held up their satisfied hands in agreement that year 2006 was truly a good and blessed year for the Nagas, attributed the feel-good factor results to Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio: “Well, ever since the DAN government has been ruling, there is great development under the leadership of His Excellency Neiphiu Rio; there is progress in every field – politically, economically and society”. However, that’s that.
The rest of the opinions refused to hold up their hands. One voter made his mind clear on the matter of the government heralding peace in the state: “Despite all the claims of the government, we could only see and read about Rio being at 2 or 3 different places on the same day. Our ‘freedom fighters’ were busy eliminating each other without any concern about anything”.
On law and order, Naga politicians were found not only wanting but were also found ‘confusing each other’ while bureaucrats remained busy waiting for things to cool, the voter said. Further, for another citizen, 2006 was in fact “overrated”. “Even if there were so many big events like the Agri-expo, hornbill events etc., they were not able to change the life of the people” he voted.
The vein of discontent continued to flow through the rugged ravines of factional infighting and tribalism. On the gradually-emerging face of tribalism in the hitherto accommodating and benign Nagaland, almost all the voters opined that this sectarian aberration called tribalism has led the people in a state of slow decay : ‘How can we call it blessed when there were so many killing and hatred?’ one asked while another reminded that these “brotherly killings” would deter any solution for peace in the state; In spite of the tall claims of the government, there were maximum killings, scandals, confusions that no one really understood what was going on, the next voter quietly opined; The NSCN-K went to the extent of driving out the Tangkhuls which has become a bitter effect and has weakened the chances of solving the Naga issue, another citizen reminded while one cautioned starkly that Nagas of today have turned to “modern headhunting”. “Factional clashes are still going on; we cannot say we are blessed” a citizen also added.
And tribalism will be the final bane and waterloo of the Nagas if those who ‘resurrected’ and ‘perpetrated’ the evil upon the people, is exposed, according to a citizen who refused to believe 2006 was “good” and blessed” year – ‘the worst enemy of the Nagas i.e., tribalism has not been banished.
A few group, party and influential individuals have resurrected this evil; the tragedy is that many Nagas believe in them and want to believe them for short-sighted reasons and believed gains. To be a blessed year all Nagas must condemn tribalism and expose the perpetrators as enemies of the Nagas’ the voter opined.
High-handedness of Naga underground cadres also took center stage. One voter opined that unless “pseudo national workers” and indulgent, opulence-driven politicians are rid of, the socio-economic mess Nagaland is in today would remain for a long time. For those under the shadow of the gun, factional killings are no shelter either – no innocent Nagas are protected from political and factional killings and freedom of speech is also lacking, one concerned citizen lamented.
