As we all brace for the coming general election which is just months away, if at all it happens, the dilemma for voters who are apolitical, who aren’t sycophants or nepotistic and who doesn’t have any relatives or sugar daddies as MLAs/ministers is that there isn’t a good option to choose from the current and probable candidates or political party that is active in Nagaland.
Both the NPF and NDPP are corrupt to the core and they are more interested in feeding their selfish and corrupt members, who are mostly political prostitutes, rather than placing honest and able candidates with good visions, principles and integrity to contest for a progressive Nagaland.
It’s an open secret how the politicians of the NPF and NDPP have robbed the people of Nagaland. It is because of the inability of the politicians in these two Naga oriented political parties that today our dear land is so sick with corruption and underdevelopment.
It is because of them that today we have people insensitive to our aspirations and problems, cooking unsavoury dishes in our kitchen and selling off our identity and integrity. The INC has become outdated and unattractive and it’s not Naga oriented so it isn’t a viable option either.
The BJP, though the sexiest and the most attractive party at the moment, is a party that every sane Naga would want to stay away from for good reasons – Firstly, like the INC it is not Naga oriented. Any non Naga political party will never be serious and sensitive about the aspirations and problems of the Naga people.
Secondly, it is an undeniable fact that the BJP is an hindutva oriented party no matter how hard it tries to conceal its true nature. It is a also a fact that there has been a significant rise in communal clashes in India with the arrival of the BJP. The hindutva nationalism is on the rise since its arrival and it is on course to divide India further on communal lines.
Thirdly, no matter how hard the national media try to portray BJP in good lines it has failed to deliver. Their policy of demonetization, farmers bill, CAA, etc all met with condemnation and failed miserably.
Unemployment has become even more chronic, economy is spiraling downwards, inflation is on a high rise and communal tension have increased. Almost all independent institutions and law enforcing agencies in our democracy starting from the Supreme Court has been hijacked by the BJP.
We have seen how they use these agencies to incarcerate those that speak out against them. Anyone voting for such a party, no matter how rhetoric and attractive they may sound, are voting against the good values of our democracy and constitution if your conscience allows so.
As far as Nagas are concerned, adopting BJP in our land is an identity and integrity suicide and the Naga BJP members aren’t saints either so they aren’t any better than the other political party members.
I know some of you will hate me for saying this but my conscience doesn’t allow me to stay quiet about this one. So, how do the apolitical and incorruptible Nagas vote in the coming election? Will you float with the waves and go where the wind blows? Will you become cheap like the majority Nagas who have already fallen blindly to nepotism, sycophancy, money, power, and charismatic rhetoric of the selfish and ambitious politicians?
As usual, in rural constituencies, the very guardians of our customs and traditions will force you to vote only for the candidate of their choice. Will you be courageous enough to stand against such evil practices? Please do no give in easily. We maybe only a few but we will never give up on our conscience. If needed, don’t even vote and don’t let anyone snatch away your vote.