Road to ‘Naga Solution’ – There are several ways to skin a cat | Nirendra Dev, New Delhi

The Modi Govt should use the ‘Waqf Bill passage’ strategy. Should defeat and expose those who thrive in Blackmailing.

The ‘system’ is only part of the victim of one of the basic laws of physics, life and also politics that is the Gravitational pull. It takes one downwards — come what may and whatever you do.

When we say the BJP-led Modi government should make use of  ’Waqf Bill passage’ strategy in Parliament vis-a-vis Naga Solution Roadmap; we are not implying any HIndu-Muslim narrative.

The reference should be understood from the perspective of the strategy drawn out by BJP’s floor managers in both the Houses of Parliament.

It’s the strategy to defeat and expose those who thrive in blackmailing.

“If you do not do in our ways, who knows what we can do” — for long this dictum worked for India’s Sickularism establishment. This particularly was for Muslims and for long the Congress, communists and other political parties respected that ‘fear mongering’ and encouraged a mix of appeasement and accommodation.

In other words – it is like giving a long rope. In the context of Nagaland and the Naga issue; the matter is understood quite easily.

So even the campaign against R N Ravi was entertained and he was moved out. Ravi as the state Governor had rightly diagnosed the basic ‘source of power’ of the blackmailing forces – the extortion. Hence he had to go !!

But a spoiled child is never expected to be the disciplined cool boy in the classroom. He would fancy another demand – mostly unreasonable ones.

The puppets and puppeteers know the art very well.  Lately the disease has spread … somewhat by external influence as well.

Boleros and cash flow were being suspected. Now in March-April 2025, even New Delhi can sense the ‘push’ from behind.

The NNPG has split, almost leaving a long term impact on the very peace process.

The Status club patrons and philosophy-guides were too happy as the NSCN (Unification) split.

Even the March 22 ‘adventurism’ could not work as a quick-fix and the blame game continued.

The moral of the lesson is no one seems to take the peace process seriously. The word ‘peace’ is so often used so casually that the real power of the word is not understood well today.

The Journey for ‘peace’ always requires a spirit of accommodation and sacrifice. Where is that found even if there was ‘instigation’ to fight ?

Both the camps seemingly believe – ‘my way or highway’.  This comes from a belief that we can ’threaten’ or blackmail the peace seekers.

This is only one part of the story. The other story is also a case where agencies smell – Desperation.

A few Naga underground groups are getting their acts together to even ‘control’ or influence the course of happening in Myanmar.

This is also to use as a tool to blackmail the peace seekers and the Govt of India — ’obey our diktats or else we go the other side’.

Notably, the other side is no heaven. There were killings and clashes and now came the killer tremor. Yet the big talks do sell.

Dream merchants know what is the weakness of the market and the gullible customers.

In the case of Waqf Bill also such a market strategy of blackmail was set into motion. If you bring the Bill, we will debate, stage drama and stall the Bill in the level of a select committee.

At the next stage, we will create fears in JD-U of Nitish Kumar and TDP.  And even further —- we know how to threaten Biju Janata Dal and YSRCP of Andhra Pradesh.

What will happen to your Muslim voters?

The government did not blink.  It gave a clear message to allies such as JD-U and TDP. It also sent in emissaries to YSRCP and Biju Janata Dal camps.

Ultimately, the game called ‘blackmail’ was defeated. Similar firm handling is required with regard tothe Naga talks too.

The stakeholders are already very weak. People’s trust and respect are on decline because no results are coming even after months and years of parleys. They are silent; that does not mean they would be passive Bolero travelers with ‘white and brown envelopes’ lifelong.

Once the power of blackmailing is stalled and exposed; things will fall like a pack of cards.

The world’s fifth largest economy, which has shown enough resilience even against Donald Trump’s tariff blackmailing, can easily give a befitting response to people who have made a fashion of testing its patience.

The experience of Waqf Bill handling in Parliament will certainly make Amit Shah wiser.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is never shy about taking big risks. Fortune will favour a decisive leader.

(Nirendra Dev is a New Delhi-based journalist. He is also author of books,‘The Talking Guns: North East India’ and ‘Modi to Moditva: An Uncensored Truth’ )