In a Democratic Set-up like our Country, every Political party professes its ideology and plays its role to gain recognition of the public and ultimately to gain power. It is evident and conspicuous for quite some years that the DAN Conglomerate and the NPCC Party has been undergoing verbal duel, attacks and counter-attack of each other’s programme & Polices ultimately each claiming to be in the interest, Welfare & betterment of our Naga Society. Naturally, such verbal war will continue even in the days and years to come, yet it is the public who should examine the genuiness and falsehood, and should not be fooled around.
“Save Nagaland” and “Develop Nagaland” was the main slogan of the DAN Party during Feb. 2003 State General Assembly Election whereby, it did use the dirties and most abusive foul languages to condemn the Congress Party, accusing it of the mess of the State of affairs in Nagaland. DAN Party went on to condemn leader of the congress Party S.C Jamir accusing him to be the stumbling block in securing a solution to the protracted Naga political problem. It further went on accusing him of his double standard policy and that his autocratic and one family misrule had created division, hatred, tension and social disharmony. DAN also proclaimed the rampant corruption, Favoritism, Nepotism & Tribalism under Congress rule had destroyed the very fabric of Naga Society and Culture and that Congress Party was anti-Naga and a Reactionary Party.
Then, in an unequivocal statement, the DAN Party promised to change the face of Nagaland , a change of everything for the better under the sky if voted to power i.e. from securing an honorable settlement of Naga Political problem within three months, to bringing Equality & Social Justice, Peace & Unity, Progress & Prosperity, Human Resources Development & E-governance, Employment opportunities, Health Care & Wealth to all, Welfare Schemes in abundance for the weaker section of society to enable them to lead a life of peace & plenty. To top it DAN Party promised transparent, accountable and corruption-free governance. As such with all this misleading, heinous accusations and tall promises along with the use of forces, it did manage to occupy the power and is so till date.
Hence, after assuming power, the DAN Party began with a “Big Trumpet Call” that its Government meant business and its prerogative was to clean up the whole corrupt system of Congress rule that was deeply rooted in the State for the last two decades. From then on, the tall promise of the DAN Government of so on and forth as mentioned earlier is going on till date.
Yet, six and half years of power and at the helm of affairs, the result is laid bore in front of everyone to see and analyse. Therefore, irrespective of party affiliation, tribe etc Nagas need to really analyse and introspect the reality that confronts us and the direction that the promised land by the DAN and in the hands of the DAN is heading to.
The hard fact and situation of the common people in their day to day life is not as rosy, peaceful, progressive, prosperous and safe in this promised Land by the DAN Party and Government. Rather, here in the promised land endless looting, abduction, killings, extortion, taxation, threat & intimidation, rape etc and persistent harassment of the common people has become the order of the day, and Meritocracy has become a mirage. To be precise, Nagaland is turning into a hell to live in by the common people, except a group of goons and coterie and the privileged. The DAN Party and Government which promised everything, except the Moon and Star has turned a complete blind eye to the plight and grave situation confronting the common people, negating the duty of any Government all these years, and the callous, motionless & powerlessness of DAN Government has permitted the situation to grow to its present abnormal stage, whereby the common people are living in constant fear & untold miseries and left to nature and one’s own fate. But for humanity sake, enough is enough.
The uncontrollable by DAN Government, unofficial and irrational taxation has resulted to the sky rocketing price of essential commodities, to the extent of 100% increase has been in forced for a long time. The brunt of extortion & heavy taxation on the business community is being passed to the common people and at this rate, our society is at the throes of total destruction and one’s own-self existence is at stake. The Government instead of shying away from its responsibility should now introspect and seriously understand that it is answerable to the people. Lack of Political Knowledge & Wisdom, Vision & Conviction, Decision & Action and Guts & Courage by the DAN Government all these years has only encourage and allowed the anti-Social permeate in every sphere of life. But sadly, if the government of the day still refuses to pay any heed to tackle and deal with the ground situation then, knowingly this government is letting our society to collapse and perish. And also, to tell the truth, it would be too foolish on the part of the government to keep on saying that the growth of the anti-social elements in our society is political in nature. Crime is crime, offence is offence and looting is looting and that should not be misunderstood by the government.
Irrefutably, our State has been and can be categorized as one of the most corrupt State as our State faces scandals after scandals. To substantiate and corroborate, some factual examples can readily reflected for reference by one and all. For example:
a) Nagaland Sugar Mill Employees Voluntary Retirement Scheme (NSMEVRS) Scandal. 1,25,05,350 crore.
b) NPSC scandal.
c) Bogus appointment of 2000 Teachers in Education Department
Scandal- 28 crores.
d) Road Scandal 21 crores etc.
Besides, all these there is rampant misuse and diversion of various funds being generously sanctioned by UPA Government at the Centre in the form of CSS’s such as NREGA,PMGSY,NRHM,BNY,RGGVY,IAY,BRGF, JNNURN, ICDS, N SDM, RKVY, NHM, NAIS, AIBP’, IWRFC, SSA, MMS, RGDWN, SGSY, DWD & PDS etc, which has come out in the open and full public knowledge. Even the Accountant General in its report submitted has pointed out the misuse and blatant misappropriation of funds in some Departments such as Horticulture, 21.43 crores Agriculture, 2.17 crore Irrigation, 44.17 crores Education, 19.92 crores & Power 190 crores to the tune of several hundred crores. Yet all these scandals & misappropriation of funds is so clear and close to the DAN Government, that it still refused to handover the case to the CBI or any impartial & High Powered Committee, and will continue to do
so. Hence, tracing and booking the culprits is out of sight and public demand for justice is a far cry.
Unfortunately, the tall promises of the DAN Party and Government of Good & E-governance, transparent & accountable, Employment Opportunities, honourable solution within three months, welfare measures for weaker sections, so on and so forth still remains elusive and will remain so at these present trends, if not worse. As such, where are we heading?
Last but not the least, these statements are based on facts, reflecting the sentiments of the common people, the Congress Party Workers and of the writer himself, hence reader view’s and judgment is always welcome.
Sevotso Seyie
Ex-INC candidate
