Pitching for MLA from neutral community
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Dr Benjamin Gangmei
After relentless efforts for reinstalling popular Government, now comes the moments of reckoning for the MLAs. Next extension of the Central rule is at the threshold; the MLAs have about one year to serve out their term; present ethnic alienation remains as hard-to-heal wound and governance in the State has been, for many months, been absent. While all these have their origin in ethnic alienation, the direct lever is the imposition of Central rule which started on 13 February, 2025.
President’s Rule in Indian democracy under Article 356 of Indian Constitution is, in many ways, expressive of denaturing characters of democracy. It is a wound to democratic fabrics as it suspends the Government of duly elected representatives who, represent the people of a demo- cratic State. The accountability of the representatives to the people is virtually absent during President’s Rule. And, no people-friendly or crucial State policy which is normally formulated through representatives is actually within the reach of the representatives. Therefore, President’s Rule in a State is often metaphorically described as “rape of Constitution” as “forced” or “suspended” democracy. It is also not far from being described as “impaired” democracy. It is so described in these manner because the rule involves replacement of elected Government, poses threat to federal polity as it weakens State autonomy. Above all it leads to the decimation of Opposition’s role which is indispensable, to make democracy more meaningful at all. Democratic principles are eroded. Therefore, is there any reason for the people of the State to be satisfied with the continuation, of President’s Rule in the State ?
Moreover, President’s Rule may alienate the people further. One reason is that the channel of lobby is shifted to bureaucrats. Amid such uncertainties, present ethnic alienation, on many counts, acts as natural and strong imperative for the formation of elected Government.
Needless to say Presidential’s Rule, as temporary measure of administration, is actually inept for solving the present crisis. Moreover, channel of lobby usable for an end of some section without popular Government is not in the interest of the people of the State.
Therefore, finding a political leader who can head the much expected popular Government can bring new hope to all concerned. The leader preferable, at this juncture, is one who should be accessible to the alienated section of the people and the one with whom the majority community may also go along with.
To be precise, he should be seen as someone neutral in the present reality.
Therefore, the installation of a new Government will certainly be in the interest of the people and the political netas. What can be alluded, in this regard, is that there has been no crisis with such magnitude under the hill leaders like late Shri Rishang Keishing or Yangmaso Shaiza. Moreover, Kuki-Naga clash was brought to normalcy under Rishang Keishing notably assisted by scholarly political leaders like late Pro- fessor Gangmumei Kamei (54/AC), Professor M Horam (45/AC). Professor Kamei who made the resolution of Kuki-Naga pro- blem of 1990s as plank of his electioneering called the problem “a losing game” and he stuck to this to the end. Similar political fortune may be tried, at this critical juncture in the State if the hills can have a man for leading the new Government.
This proposed trial for leading the new Government is on three counts: leader belonging to a neutral community, from ruling party and one who is in good books of Central political leaders. Leader ful- filling the counts is not far to seek in the Naga community.
What may be considered corollary to this overture is that the leader desired in connection with the present ethnic turmoil should be able to come up with the plan for resolving the turmoil. Here, the defining ground for the resolution should root in the principle that demanding the demandable is a demand fulfillable. This is needed because if the majority considers the demand raised by some as “inconceivable”, then something demandable be found out for the concerned groups or hill tribes as a whole. This may be made as last-ditch effort on the part of valley section and Naga groups. For example, what is Constitutionally “demandable” is Sixth Schedule which, if its provisions are truly used with the improvements through amendments in the areas of financial, administrative and jurisdictional lapses, can effectively address diverse problems facing the hill tribes of the State as in other four States in North-East. In this regard, the Nagas and their representatives particularly present Chairman of Hill Areas Committee are not averse to it rather they consider the demand for the Sixth Schedule demandable. The Chairman firmly stands for resolving present crisis.
In conclusion, it can be said that solution to the ethnic crisis lies in change from what one is. Expecting change from others in one’s favour without changing oneself cannot change them. Change in favour of collective interests is needed now which may be hard to do but that is what the present calls for. I conclude with the words of Leo Tolstoy, “Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself”. Change is the magic.
After relentless efforts for reinstalling popular Government, now comes the moments of reckoning for the MLAs. Next extension of the Central rule is at the threshold; the MLAs have about one year to serve out their term; present ethnic alienation remains as hard-to-heal wound and governance in the State has been, for many months, been absent. While all these have their origin in ethnic alienation, the direct lever is the imposition of Central rule which started on 13 February, 2025.
President’s Rule in Indian democracy under Article 356 of Indian Constitution is, in many ways, expressive of denaturing characters of democracy. It is a wound to democratic fabrics as it suspends the Government of duly elected representatives who, represent the people of a demo- cratic State. The accountability of the representatives to the people is virtually absent during President’s Rule. And, no people-friendly or crucial State policy which is normally formulated through representatives is actually within the reach of the representatives. Therefore, President’s Rule in a State is often metaphorically described as “rape of Constitution” as “forced” or “suspended” democracy. It is also not far from being described as “impaired” democracy. It is so described in these manner because the rule involves replacement of elected Government, poses threat to federal polity as it weakens State autonomy. Above all it leads to the decimation of Opposition’s role which is indispensable, to make democracy more meaningful at all. Democratic principles are eroded. Therefore, is there any reason for the people of the State to be satisfied with the continuation, of President’s Rule in the State ?
Moreover, President’s Rule may alienate the people further. One reason is that the channel of lobby is shifted to bureaucrats. Amid such uncertainties, present ethnic alienation, on many counts, acts as natural and strong imperative for the formation of elected Government.
Needless to say Presidential’s Rule, as temporary measure of administration, is actually inept for solving the present crisis. Moreover, channel of lobby usable for an end of some section without popular Government is not in the interest of the people of the State.
Therefore, finding a political leader who can head the much expected popular Government can bring new hope to all concerned. The leader preferable, at this juncture, is one who should be accessible to the alienated section of the people and the one with whom the majority community may also go along with.
To be precise, he should be seen as someone neutral in the present reality.
Therefore, the installation of a new Government will certainly be in the interest of the people and the political netas. What can be alluded, in this regard, is that there has been no crisis with such magnitude under the hill leaders like late Shri Rishang Keishing or Yangmaso Shaiza. Moreover, Kuki-Naga clash was brought to normalcy under Rishang Keishing notably assisted by scholarly political leaders like late Pro- fessor Gangmumei Kamei (54/AC), Professor M Horam (45/AC). Professor Kamei who made the resolution of Kuki-Naga pro- blem of 1990s as plank of his electioneering called the problem “a losing game” and he stuck to this to the end. Similar political fortune may be tried, at this critical juncture in the State if the hills can have a man for leading the new Government.
This proposed trial for leading the new Government is on three counts: leader belonging to a neutral community, from ruling party and one who is in good books of Central political leaders. Leader ful- filling the counts is not far to seek in the Naga community.
What may be considered corollary to this overture is that the leader desired in connection with the present ethnic turmoil should be able to come up with the plan for resolving the turmoil. Here, the defining ground for the resolution should root in the principle that demanding the demandable is a demand fulfillable. This is needed because if the majority considers the demand raised by some as “inconceivable”, then something demandable be found out for the concerned groups or hill tribes as a whole. This may be made as last-ditch effort on the part of valley section and Naga groups. For example, what is Constitutionally “demandable” is Sixth Schedule which, if its provisions are truly used with the improvements through amendments in the areas of financial, administrative and jurisdictional lapses, can effectively address diverse problems facing the hill tribes of the State as in other four States in North-East. In this regard, the Nagas and their representatives particularly present Chairman of Hill Areas Committee are not averse to it rather they consider the demand for the Sixth Schedule demandable. The Chairman firmly stands for resolving present crisis.
In conclusion, it can be said that solution to the ethnic crisis lies in change from what one is. Expecting change from others in one’s favour without changing oneself cannot change them. Change in favour of collective interests is needed now which may be hard to do but that is what the present calls for. I conclude with the words of Leo Tolstoy, “Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself”. Change is the magic.