As Nagaland joined the rest of the country in celebrating the 74th Independence Day on August 15, the customary messages by the two top State Executives make for interesting reading. They concurred on one issue, though – the State’s response to COVID-19, which both found satisfactory.
Nagaland is certainly better prepared to save precious lives, the Governor said highlighting how the State built the Biosafety Level (BSL) Laboratories in record time and how citizens are better aware of the preventive protocols and how the State Government is better “energised and synergized” at the state and district levels.
According to DIPR, during the State level celebration of the 74th Independence Day at Nagaland Secretariat Plaza, the Chief Minister too noted how the Nagaland, along with the rest of the country, faced the pandemic with a ‘firm resolve’ since the very beginning. Concurring with the Governor, he said that the State’s focus on building, improving and upgrading health and medical facilities have resulted in positive aspects.
Both were effusive in acknowledging the COVID-19 Frontline Warriors’ crucial roles as well as the services of Civil society and grass-root organisations, church leaders, mass-based organizations, NGOs, volunteers and citizens.
Beyond this, on developmental and Naga political issues, they were conspicuously on divergent views.
While the Governor, who is also the Interlocutor to Indo-Naga Peace Talks, avoided any direct reference to the ongoing process, he was outright in pointing out how the relative decline in the state of affairs has been “more obvious during the recent decades.” Initially a progressive State despite odds, he said Nagaland today has “dubious distinction of the worst-performing state in the country including the North-East region on almost all the significant indicators of Human Development.”
The issue of human resource, especially in the times of COVID-19, was cited as a grave concern. The absence of internet connectivity and Information Communication Technology facility, he said, is holding back students.
The Governor also pointed out that waves of positive transformation and growth sweeping all parts of the country including the emerging economic hub, North-East “seem to have been bypassing Nagaland” and termed the investment climate the State as “worrisome.”
He diagnosed the recent decline to a “deeply entrenched network of vested interests” which emerged after the suspension of “operations against each other” by security forces and Naga Political Groups. The networks have “misappropriated the dividends of Peace and did not allow them to reach the people,” he asserted, calling it “mass scale mayhem and miscarriage of dreams and expectations of the people” and “unendurable and unacceptable.” Stating that the people of Nagaland have their natural right of a dignified future, the Governor also batted for building and strengthening “institutions of accountability, justice and fair play.”
The Chief Minister, meanwhile, expressed the need for an early and honourable settlement of the Naga Political Issue and reiterated the State Government’s role by making all possible efforts in reaching a logical conclusion.
However, he overtly reminded that “23 years of ceasefire and political dialogue is more than enough time to reach a logical conclusion and Nagas have longed for genuine peace for decades.” This can also be construed as a ‘reminder’ to the Interlocutor regarding the need to resolve the issue “without further delay.” On the economic front, the Chief Minister chose to limit his speech to the current situation and the responses thereof.
In doing so, one is made to understand that for the Governor, the ceasefire period is a rehearsal as well as a mirror to the future. On the other end, the Chief Minister seems to be looking at the possible “honourable and acceptable solution” as a step into a new configuration that would “pave the way for all-round progress and development.”
What were their solutions then? For the Chief Minister, the pandemic has shown State’s resilience and capacity to raise its efficiency, management and planning capabilities to further heights as well as face the economic challenges. For the Governor, the people have to break the vice, including the grip of the ‘vicious circle of the network of vested interests’ and make way for the virtuous circle of peace, prosperity and happiness for our people.’ Shall the twain ever meet?
