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03/02/2008: "‘President’s rule has brought back military rule’ From Tehelka Magazine, Vol 5, Issue 9, Dated Mar 08, 2008"

‘President’s rule has brought back military rule’ From Tehelka Magazine, Vol 5, Issue 9, Dated Mar 08, 2008

Ahead of Assembly polls in Nagaland, former CM Neiphiu Rio tells TERESA REHMAN that the Centre is subverting democracy
Did you expect the imposition of President’ rule in Nagaland just two months before you were to complete office?
When we contested the no-confidence motion in the state Assembly on December 13, the Congress, which is in opposition, did not challenge the decision in the Court but went straight to the AICC headquarters. That did not surprise me. I knew they would be up to some mischief. In the world’s biggest democracy, the same law should be applicable in both Goa and Nagaland. It’s a mockery of the Constitution when different yardsticks are used.
Will Presidents’ rule jeopardise the peace process with the Naga militant groups?
The ongoing peace process is very fragile and delicate. Without the people’s government, I am afraid the situation might get out of hand. Law and order situation is at its worst in Delhi and Mumbai. In the Northeast, it is the worst in Assam and Manipur, both Congress-ruled.
As chief minister, have you done anything differently?
We have brought about a sea change in development activities. We have been playing the role of a facilitator between the Centre and the insurgent groups. Though there has been no resolution, the dialogue continues.
The Democratic Alliance of Nagaland coalition, led by your party, Nagaland People’s Front, was said to be shaky despite surviving the no-confidence motion.
We defeated a no-confidence motion, just like Goa. But because Goa has a Congress government and Nagaland, a regional government, we have been discriminated against. If somebody wants to rule the people, they should seek the mandate of the people.
What results do you expect in the Assembly polls?
I am confident we will be voted back to power.
Are you apprehensive that elections won’t be free and fair?
They might try to misuse the government machinery. I don’t support this backdoor imposition of President’s rule which has brought back military rule to Nagaland.
Your government has been called a NSCN-IM puppet.
We adopted a policy of equidistance and acted as a facilitator to all militant groups. Our policy is to facilitate dialogue and show an alternative way. We constituted a committee for peace and, at party level, set up a sub-committee of political parties. We contacted all underground groups and civil society members to bring about unity and consolidation in the entire process. We also had a night market till 9-10pm in Nagaland, which in itself is historic.
But there are allegations that the NSCN-IM runs a parallel government in Nagaland.
Political adversaries will always make all kinds of allegations. They should substantiate them. The people are the best judge and they will give a fitting reply in the coming polls.
What do you think will be the most important issue on the common man’s mind when he will vote in the coming elections?
Nagas want permanent peace, progress and development. They want to change the gun-culture to a work-culture. And we are responsible for all these positive developments. The young generation in Nagaland wants lasting peace.
When will this lasting peace come? Hasn’t the peace process taken long enough?
It all depends on the negotiating parties. We want an honourable settlement for the Naga people.
Memei Hoho stands for broad-based unification morungexpress
Dimapur, February 29 (MExN): The Mao Council (Memei Hoho) today declared that ‘Naga unification and reconciliation’ has to be broad-based, taking into confidence the rest of the Naga tribes, “where all our motives have to be cleared and without any reservation”.
The Tadubi (Senapati) based Mao Council (Memei Hoho), in a press statement issued by its president, K Adanichoro, said that any initiative for Naga “unification” and reconciliation by any of the Naga tribal organisations or individual is “a must and a full hearted labour which will surely strengthen the long pending Naga issue and push forward the hard earned Naga peace process between the Nagas and the Government of India”.
In this regard, the Mao Council appreciated the Naga “unification” move spearheaded by the Western Sumi Hoho and Sumi Hoho. However, the council reiterated its stand that the unification move has to be broad based which must take the rest of the Naga tribes into confidence. “Any unification and reconciliation move cannot be, but, imposed if it is discriminating to any of the Naga tribes, there is no cheap blood shed by any Nagas for the cause of sovereignty,” the Mao Council stated.
In this connection, the release stated that the spirit of oneness of the Nagas to fight for sovereignty was mandated by the Nagas by making the plebiscite of 1951 a successful one, under the aegis of the then NNC regime. Besides, the Mao Council stated that the NSCN (IM) collective leadership, Isak Chishi Swu and Th Muivah have been carrying on the Naga peace dialogue for an honourable solution to the long pending Naga issue.
“Therefore, any alteration or changes of the Nagas Policies and programmes must be always mandated by the Naga people as a whole,” it said and added that on January 23 at its general meeting, the Council has reaffirmed its stand of previous resolution to support the mandate of the Naga people as a whole under the Naga Hoho.

Cong slams foes, friends in Nagaland OUR CORRESPONDENT The Telegraph
Kohima, Feb. 29: The Congress is training its guns on its foes as well as its allies in the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) who are hobnobbing with the Opposition at the state level.
AICC general secretary Margaret Alva said here last night that the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), one of the main constituents of the UPA government, had no right to speak of secularism.
She slammed the NCP for striking a pre-poll alliance with the Nagaland People’s Front (NPF) and its ally, the BJP. She alleged that the NCP was supping with the “communal” BJP for the sake of power.
She claimed the NCP would not win a single seat because of its double standards.
Her prediction for another UPA ally, the Rashtriya Janata Dal, was no different. “Lalu (Prasad) won’t win even one seat,” she said, referring to the RJD leader, who is hoping to open the party’s account in Nagaland. The RJD has fielded candidates for 25 seats in the 60-member Assembly.
Alva was reacting to reports that Lalu Prasad had met NPF leader and former chief minister of Nagaland, Neiphiu Rio, for post-poll alliance. Rio confirmed that members of the RJD had recently met him for post-poll alliance. Nagaland PCC president Hokheto Sumi said Nagaland was heading for “moneycracy”, but Alva said voters in Nagaland were “more decent” than those in other states.
She said muscle power was far less in Nagaland compared with the other parts of the country.
Streets on fire in Bodo belt - Nine vehicles torched during bandh OUR CORRESPONDENT The Telegraph


Guwahati, Feb. 29: A trail of violence on a day when the National Democratic Front of Boroland was to have talked peace with Delhi scarred four Lower Assam districts.
Arsonists went about torching vehicles, including a magistrate’s official jeep, for defying a 12-hour bandh clamped by the NDFB to protest an attack on one of its members. The bandh announcement coincided with the Bodo militant group’s refusal to sit for a meeting of the joint ceasefire monitoring group today.
As many as nine vehicles were torched in the four districts of Kokrajhar, Baksa, Udalguri and Chirang. All four districts are under the Bodoland Territorial Council, controlled by former leaders of the NDFB’s erstwhile rival, the Bodo Liberation Tigers.
In Kokrajhar, people trying to enforce the bandh targeted the jeep of a magistrate at Sikhargaon, under Dotma police station, around 9am. A motorcycle was set ablaze at the same place.
Another group of arsonists struck at Tilipara under Gossaigaon police station, setting fire to a van that was on its way to Bengal from Bauraguri. A bike was torched at Bismuri and another damaged at Tinali.
A Sumo Victa met the same fate at Labdanguri in Baksa district. Militants of the NDFB were allegedly involved in this incident, which occurred around 7am.
A mob laid siege to a designated NDFB camp in retaliation and set it ablaze.
Nobody was injured, the police said.
Bandh enforcers also torched two Mahindra Safaris at Kusrabari in the same district.
In Udalguri, a Mahindra van and a scooter were gutted. Arsonists smashed the windshield of an Assam State Transport Corporation bus in the same district.
A tea vendor, Siren Kisko, was beaten up and his stall torched at Bengtol in Chirang district. Kisko was admitted to Lower Assam Hospital in Bongaigaon.
Business establishments and educational institutions remaining closed across the Bodo heartland.
Although matric and college examinations were held as scheduled, examinees had a difficult time reaching the centres. Train services were not affected.
The NDFB bandh was declared after one of its men, N. Muluksa, was attacked at Aila Chowk in Baksa district yesterday evening. Muluksa was seriously injured in the shooting.
The militant group has long been complaining about atrocities by the police and its “rivals”, an allusion to members of the disbanded Bodoland Liberation Tigers.
On the other hand, the Bodoland People’s Front today took out a bike rally to protest the alleged intimidation of civilians by NDFB members.
The NDFB's information and publicity secretary, S. Sanjarang, said yesterday that the outfit would not even consider sitting for talks until the government clarified its position on some issues. He cited three instances of “unarmed” NDFB members being targeted, twice allegedly by police officers.
Cry for peace as tension mounts in Mkg Limalenden Longkumer
ABAM women in procession protesting against election-related violence in Mokokchung district, February 29.
Mokokchung | February 29: Ten Assembly Constituencies, 33 candidates from 5 political parties including 7 independent candidates in the fray. Mokokchung district is the political hotbed of the March 5 general elections to the 11th Nagaland Legislative Assembly, all but for the wrong reasons. Pre-poll violence is rampant and election-related violence has so far claimed 5 lives and hospitalized more than a score. About 10 vehicles have been burned and several houses vandalized. Stone-pelting and gang-fights between contesting parties are a routine. And the drama doesn’t end there. With the March 5 polling day barely a week away, and tension building, it is feared that more lives will be lost if the current spate of violence keeps momentum.
Against this backdrop, the Women department of the Ao Baptist Arogo Mungdang (ABAM) today organized a mass procession in Mokokchung town to make their prayer for a peaceful election heard. The women from various churches in and around Mokokchung town numbering several hundreds assembled at Imkongmeren Sports Complex and proceeded towards the heart of the town, making slogans and displaying placards. The procession culminated at ‘Police Point’ with a mass prayer.
Also, a combined team of Watsu Mungdang, Ao Senden and Ao Kaketshir Mungdang volunteers today destroyed contraband liquor they seized yesterday along Mokokchung-Amguri Road, NH 61 in presence of police, district administration and other observers. The three frontal organizations have earlier issued a joint declaration stating that import and sale of liquor will be strictly prohibited in the district.
Although security has been beefed up, it is evident the situation has not been contained. The Deputy Commissioner of Mokokchung, R.Ramakrishnan, admitted that the situation is volatile and could go out of control, hinting that the civil society led by the frontal organizations and the people in general must cooperate with the Administration to counteract and neutralize the situation. He said that, compared to other districts, Mokokchung has been deployed the highest number of security forces. When queried if an indenting candidate is liable for legal prosecution under election law if found encouraging violence, Ramakrishnan, who is also the Returning Officer, answered in the affirmative. A candidate can be penalized even up to the extend of nullifying his candidature if found guilty, as per the provisions of election law sanctioned by the Representation of the People Act 1951 and the Conduct of Election Rules Act 1961. The Manual of Election Law also provides that a candidate’s expenditure during an election shall not exceed Rs.5 lakh.
The Church (ABAM) at long last on February 26 Impur conducted a ‘prayer fellowship’ with all the indenting candidates from the district. A representative candidate from each of the political parties shared their respective ‘prayer points’. Ironically, election related violence and the appeal to abhor from it found mention in each representative’s ‘prayer points’, just hours after which a series of violence broke out, leaving 14 hospitalized and 2 dead in two different constituencies. Interestingly, during the ‘prayer fellowship’, the time that was given to the candidates to share their ‘prayer points’ became rather like a campaign platform, despite the Model Code of Conduct for guidance of candidates published by the Election Commission of India clearly stating that Churches, Temples or other places of worship shall not be used as forum for election propaganda. ABAM President Temsuwati that day appealed the candidates to uphold “higher level of politics” implying a violent-free election, but his call appears to be too much of an asking.
AKM President elect, Bendang Aier, expressed disappointment over how political parties are engaging in violence and wondered what kind of a leader would be elected through bloodshed. He also said that vandalism is not Naga culture and warned the parties to detest from destroying properties, including vehicles and houses. He particularly warned government officials should not directly involve in politics. Cases of politicians bribing government servants and persuading them to submit their details in the ‘Form 12’ for their postal ballot paper in favor of the ‘paying candidate’ are rampant.
The President of Watsü Mungdang, Subongla Lemdor, was also very vocal in vehemently condemning the candidates for inducing the youth to fight amongst themselves by providing them liquor, money and arms. She also lamented that even the womenfolk are selling their votes and advised the candidates not to offer money and liquor to the people, which she termed are the ‘root cause of all evil’. She alleged underground Naga national workers as involving in elections and said they should not.
Others who are futuristic in outlook, like Temjen Paul, the Ao Senden General Secretary, are afraid that the ‘present election system’ would in a few years’ time lead to stratification of Naga society, leaving a chasm between the rich and the poor. Temjen Tzudir, another senior Ao Senden leader failed to understand why the voters seek money during elections when they should actually be seeking development by electing the right candidate.
However, in the opinion of Yangerlemba, Coordinator of Mokokchung Municipal Council, the fault does not lie in the candidates themselves or in the youths alone, who hold the elders and parents as equally responsible. He also challenged the Church for not playing their role as moral guardian of the society and said that if at least one single Church worker stood for change without fear and shame, then that would be the beginning of reformation.
Meanwhile, there are other radical thinkers who believe that the whole system is ‘the problem’. A member of Mokokchung Mitkar, the cultural watchdog, on condition of anonymity opined that Indian democratic system contradicts the very tenets of Naga democracy and that the prevalent situation in Nagaland is the sum result of the clash between the two systems. He also added that Indian parliamentary form of government does not augur well for Nagaland where democracy was flourishing even before India became a republic, and recommended for a Federal form of government in Nagaland.
In the mean time, situation is reported to be tense across the district. Kangtsung, Tuli, Wameken and Merangkong under 21 Tuli A/C, Changtongya under 22 Arkakong A/C, Longjang and Kubolong under 23 Impur A/C, Longmisa under 24 Angetyongpang A/C, Longsa under 25 Mongoya A/C, Ungma under 26 Aonglenden A/C, Longkhum, Alichen, Mangmetong and Chungtia under 28 Koridang A/C, Khar, Changki and Mangkolemba under 29 Jangpetkong A/C and Nokpu and Lirmen under 30 Alongtaki A/C are reportedly the hyper-sensitive areas in the district. 27 Mokokchung Town A/C is also regarded a sensitive area with three candidates from three major villages of Chungtia, Ungma and Longsa in the fray, if history repeats.

BSF plans air surveillance OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT The Telegraph
Agartala, Feb. 29: The BSF is readying for air surveillance to supplement ground patrolling of the porous international borders in the Northeast that militants, infiltrators and smugglers breach more often than in any other part of the country.
The additional director-general of the frontier force in the east, U.K. Bansal, told the media in Agartala today that helicopters would whizz above the international borders regularly as a second line of defence.
He said barbed-wire fences had already brought down crime and the BSF was aiming to secure those stretches that were still vulnerable.
“Once the fencing project is complete, the entire stretch of the international border will be crime-free,” the official said.
Bansal arrived in the Tripura capital yesterday to take stock of the BSF’s security arrangements along the border.
Of the 856-km-long Indo-Bangladesh border in the state, as many as 641km have been fenced and work on a 151-km stretch is in progress.
“The rate of progress in fencing the border and constructing roads is the highest in Tripura among all the states of the Northeast,” Bansal said.
The BSF recently began using sniffer dogs for detection of bombs and explosives. “Since this has produced results, we will induct more sniffer dogs into our squad,” the additional director-general said.
He complimented the Left Front government for co-operating with BSF units deployed in Tripura.
“The state government has provided us with road connectivity, water supply and other amenities so that our officers and jawans can perform their duties effectively. I am sure this co-operation will continue.”
As many as 20 border outposts in the remote hilly areas are connected only by air.
Bansal said malaria was a big impediment for BSF personnel stationed on the border.
“We have distributed testing and prevention kits and approved medicines among our jawans and officers working in the remote areas,” he added.
Asked what the BSF was doing to prevent the Northeast’s militant groups from operating out of Bangladesh, Bansal said the frontier force had handed lists of rebel hideouts in that country to Bangladesh Rifles on several occasions.
“They often deny it and allege that anti-Bangladesh elements are finding shelter on our soil.”
On the contentious issue of BSF units being deployed for election security, the additional director-general said it was an occupational hazard.
“As faithful soldiers, BSF personnel cannot question any decision but carry out orders.”
A woman’s world? Not quite SAMIR K. PURKAYASTHA GENDER BENDER The Telegraph


Women form the frontline of the crowd listening attentively to RJD chief Lalu Prasad during his election campaign in Dimapur on Thursday. Picture by Eastern Projections
Kohima, Feb. 29: Nagaland politics still fights shy of women.
Time and again, Naga women have proved they are second to none in any field, but not one of them has ever been elected to the 60-member Nagaland Assembly.
Consider Khegoli Aomi, the president of the Dimapur Business Organisation. She runs her own enterprise, barks orders to the mechanic over phone on how to fix the alignment of her car wheels, cooks meals for her family and has been actively involved in politics directly and indirectly since the early eighties. Yet, these qualities were not enough for her to get a party ticket.
This is not the tale of just one woman or the shortcoming of a political party. This is the general political scenario in the state that boasts of a very high female literacy rate and an exalted socio-economic status for women.
This time, there are only four women among the 218 candidates in the fray. They are Zeneisele of the Janata Dal (United) from Dimapur-I Assembly constituency, Soly of the BJP from Pungro-Kiphire Assembly constituency, Rosemary Jamir, an Independent candidate from Alongtaki, and Rhakila of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) from Tuensang Sadar-II Assembly constituency.
The two major political parties, the Congress and the Nagaland Peoples Front (NPF), did not consider any of its women leaders as a “winnable candidate”. So much for women’s empowerment.
“Our male counterparts do not want to involve us in decision-making. During elections, the women and youth wings are in the forefront, campaigning for candidates. But for the party we are always workers, not leaders,” said Mahila Congress secretary N. Lucy. “Neither Sonia Gandhi nor her mother-in-law, late Indira Gandhi, could ever do anything to change the situation,” she added.
The NPF could not give a ticket to Sano Vamuzo, the chairperson of the Nagaland Women’s Commission and widow of former chief minister Vamuzo Phesao.
Aomi, who was denied a ticket by the Congress incidentally, too, is also the widow of a very popular leader of the state, L. Hekiye.
The parties have their own defence. NPF secretary general Chubatemjen Ao said Sano Vamuzo could not be accommodated as she wanted a ticket from her late husband’s constituency — Chazouba in Phek district — where the party has a sitting legislator in Thenucho.
As for the Congress, one of its senior leaders, K.L. Chishi, the party could not give nominations to any woman without considering her ability to win just for the sake of women’s empowerment.
“Why is it that our political leadership cannot find a single winnable candidate among the women?” asked Alemla Pongener, a sales executive in Kohima.
According to Chubatemjen Ao, it is the Naga tradition of not involving women in administrative and governing roles that is holding back the women from making a foray into the Assembly. “It will take some more time for society to readily accept a woman as a leader and our party is trying to achieve this,” he said.
Not many women are convinced, though. “Before drawing any conclusion, just give us a chance,” said Khegoli.
Will the budget bring early polls? morungexpress
Finance Minister P. Chidambaram, holds up his briefcase with budget materials as he walks out of the ministry building to present the annual budget in New Delhi, Friday February 29 (AP Photo)
New Delhi, February 29 (PTI): A populist budget providing for a massive farm loan waiver, income tax sops across the board and no additional burden on the corporate sector today prompted widespread speculation that Lok Sabha polls may be held before the end of the year, probably by October or November.
Apparently the fast-tracking of the implementation of the debt waiver and relief scheme by June this year led to political parties, including those on the side of the government, and the industry predicting that elections are not far away.
Short of announcing the date for elections, everything else has been announced, said leader of the CPI Parliamentary Party in Lok Sabha Gurudas Dasgupta, whose party supports the government.
Dubbing the budget as “election manifesto”, BJP Vice President Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said “it is a clear signal that elections are being held early. The nature of the budget is virtual declaration of mid-term elections.” Sharing this view, noted industrialist and Rajya Sabha member Rahul Bajaj said the budget has clear indicators for early elections.
In the central hall of Parliament, Congress MPs were discussing the possibility of early polls and joking with colleagues of other parties to get ready for the battle. However, CPI MP D Raja does not feel it points to early elections, though he concedes that the budget does have a short-term perspective on several issues.
Finance Minister P Chidambaram, the hero of day, dismissed all talk of elections saying in India elections take place every year and the budgets can be described as election budgets. “If you have nothing else to say about the budget, then you can call it election-budget,” he said in a tone tinged with sarcasm at the customary post-budget briefing.

Poll budget writes off farm loans

New Delhi, February 29 (PTI): In a budget that many saw was aimed at early polls, Finance Minister P Chidambaram today gave a whopping Rs 60,000 crore largesse to farmers by writing off their loans, provided sops to income tax payers, imposed no fresh burden on corporates but brought down excise duties to stimulate economy. Spreading goodies in the fifth and last full-fledged Budget of the UPA Government, he brought down excise duties that will bring down prices of drugs, small and hybrid cars, two and three-wheelers, water purification devices, breakfast cereals, paper and paper-board. However, non-filtered cigarettes will become expensive.
In a populist measure against the backdrop of serious indebtedness of farmers leading to suicides, the Finance Minister announced the largest-ever loan waiver and relief package of Rs 60,000 crore that will benefit four crore farmers. Political parties, including those on the government side, and industrialists saw this measure as an indication that polls could be possible earlier than scheduled. Without altering the rate of tax, Chidambaram sought to please the middle class by raising the income tax exemption limit to Rs 1,50,000 from Rs 1,10,000 that will give a minimum relief of Rs 4,000.

16,400 cr raised for NE fund

New Delhi, February 29 (AGENCIES): Government has raised the allocation for several schemes in the North East from Rs 14,365 crore (Rs 143.65 billion) to Rs 16,400 crore (Rs 164 billion). The Finance Minister P Chidambaram said this while presenting the 2008-2009 Budget in the Lok Sabha on Friday. The government has also allocated Rs 500 crore (Rs 5 billion) identifying urgent needs of development programmes of border areas like Arunachal Pradesh. “The northeastern region will continue to receive special attention and enhanced allocations,” Chidambaram said.