DImapur, February 27 (MExN): Appealing to the voters of Nagaland that the best bet for the Nagas is to stick to regionalism as a matter of principle, former Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio said that through regionalism “we would be in a better position to protect and preserve our Naga nationalism and identity, and develop through our own genius.”
In his speech broadcast over Doordarshan, Rio also appealed to voters in Nagaland that a period of regionalism and coalition era has come to stay in India and that the Congress party, which spearheaded India’s Independence movement, had ruled the country single handedly for decades “has degenerated” unable to recover its lost grounds”. Rio also claimed that the Congress-led UPA alliance at the Centre was becoming more and more uncertain and in this regard, Rio referred to how the UPA is now at the mercy of the Left parties, who are threatening now to withdraw their support. This would mean the end of the UPA Government at the Centre. “In such a scenario, the prospect of their returning to power at the Centre is very dim. So, we can safely predict that Congress is a party of the past, but not a party of the future”, Rio claimed.
“There is much at stake, especially at this crucial juncture of our Naga history and political movement. It is through regionalism that Nagas can truly present themselves as a force to reckon with even at the national level. Yes, regionalism is the direction, in which the wind is blowing now all over the country. Those who try to swim against the direction of the wind are likely to find that their efforts are in vain”, Rio said.
Making the issue of imposition of President’s Rule in Nagaland an electoral point for the coming elections on March 5, the former Chief Minister termed this move of the Centre as an assault on the “popular mandate” given by the people of Nagaland to the NPF led DAN government. Rio in a speech broadcast over AIR and Doordarshan said that President’s Rule imposed for the fourth time in Nagaland was all done during the rule of the regional parties only. “This speaks volumes about the biased attitude of the Congress Government at the Centre towards regional parties”, Rio said and appealed to “all patriotic Nagas to take careful note of this, and give a befitting reply to them in the coming election”.
Rio also held the Congress party in Nagaland as equally responsible for bringing about President’s Rule in the State pointing out that the Congress was “so addicted to power that they cannot play the role of constructive opposition, which is expected of them”. “If they cannot occupy the seat of power, they would not hesitate to use any method to pull down those who are in power, even it means ignoring the people’s mandate”, Rio said adding that the Nagaland Congress succeeded in bringing President Rule to Nagaland as their New Year’s gift, which, Rio stated was “an insult to the pride of any self-respecting Naga”.
The former Chief Minister also cautioned the MLAs who had defected from the DAN alliance had done so, not due to any differences on policy issues but simply because they could not be included in the Council of Ministers, consequent upon the down-sizing of the ministry, imposed by an Act of Parliament. “In view of the fact that the size of the ministry in Nagaland would henceforth be restricted to 12 only, the people should be careful to elect only those candidates who have sound principles, who are not power mongers, and would not barter away the people’s mandate for their personal benefit”, Rio said pointing out that irrespective of whichever party may come to power, a period of instability will set in, which would be harmful to good governance and development.
Rio also explained the “advantage of regional parties” stating that they “do not have a High Command or Remote Control located at far away Delhi, dictating the policies and programmes of the State, without truly understanding the local ground situations”. “For us, our high Command is the people at the grassroots. It is their commands and their wishes that would receive top priority in all policy matters”, Rio assured.
Pointing out that Nagas are at an important cross-road in the history of Naga political movement, Rio advised that people should avoid making costly mistakes which we may regret later. “Let us vote for the party which represents the best interests of the Nagas, and which can best protect the spirit of Naga nationalism and Naga identity, so that history and future posterity would not blame us for spoiling the Naga cause”.
