Minimum PMO and Maximum MHA : Accountability in Politics

Nirendra Dev *

BJP Chief J P Nadda must know, to be India's Home Minister is not a part time job. Most of our readers know that most often politics in Nagaland state revolves around mysterious Lady Luck. In other words, some of the problems and challenges are a gift of 'certain unfortunate happenings'.

What is of significance is that every time we find some remedial steps are being taken to treat the ailments,some of those measures would be either misguided or taken with ill-motives by certain protagonists.

Why should Nagaland peace talks be derailed or stalled? Why should a seemingly successful interlocutor R N Ravi suddenly be moved out ?

Why should Himanta Biswa Sarma suddenly decide the fate of Naga politicians and the state itself?

In all these, personally even Narendra Modi admirers have been let down. India's most decisive Prime Minister has gone silent on Manipur unrest and is possibly preparing for elections 2024 without solving the Naga insurgency.

People talk about “Minimum Government, Maximum Governance?" and so on. I will go a step further and would try to highlight 'Minimum PMO and Maximum MHA'.

This is becoming a problem area for Narendra Modi. Take for instance, the Naga peace talks. The progress made on the matter has been stalled slightly because of an 'unreasonable set of demands' from one group and slightly because Amit Shah has started consulting everybody.

The transfer of R N Ravi was a throwback to Congress culture. 'Appeasement' ! That was unjustified and that actually was a result of Neiphiu Rio-Himanta friendship. It only helped some people raise their ego graph. How much Amit Shah thought seriously before taking such a decision is not clear ?

Apparently, key protagonists are now clueless on how things should be taken to the next stage vis-a-vis Article 371 (A) and the 6th Schedule in Nagaland. With or without Manipur unrest, 371 (C) is perhaps also in debate. Analysts offer their argument in a candid manner but quite with clinical precision.

"Under interlocutor Ravi and PMO 'mission' to resolve the political and historical Naga problem several gaps were breached. They reached a very good level of understanding to reach a mutual political agreement in 2019, but it was stalled and nothing is progressing further," says one of them.

It is true in subsequent stages, the centre brought all conflicting issues in the region together and then "failed to appreciate" the historical and political aspirations of the people that needed corrections in the political structures. Others say, BJP leadership also mixed missions such as resolving the Naga problem with the saffron party's "ambitious expansionist agenda".

These overshadowed all the good intent and some unwarranted players both within the state's political structure and in the neighbourhood got undue importance. "It appeared the Naga talks were outsourced to a BJP functionary," remarked a former Nagaland chief minister earlier this year.

Achieving a 'Solution agreement' with Naga rebels after exerting enough pressure on 'saboteurs' will not only be an achievement, it will be a game-changer in the northeast. It will salvage PM Modi's image, bring relief to countless citizens and also give a powerful message for Peace in a region which ultimately will play a major role in the success of Modi's vision of Act East policy.

In BJP's internal management, the division of labour is not clearly defined. And even if it is defined there are individuals who are spoiling the curry. Take the instance of BJP president J P Nadda.

There is a strong feeling among the party karyakartas and supporters that Nadda is still too happy to function as a working president and keeps looking towards Shah even for minor decisions. This may not be something the Prime Minister desired in a BJP president.

Nadda should take the course correction himself. This is not to suggest that Amit Shah should be shown disrespect or not consulted; but if Nadda starts taking a few decisions independently, it could help reduce Shah's burden. Who has to decide about replacing a lacklustre state president in Nagaland; Nadda or Shah ? The demand started in 2018 and we have crossed half of 2023.

The Home Minister is workaholic no doubt but to be Home Minister of India -- is not a part time job.

PM Modi must also realise that if he wants posterity to remember him as a brilliant Prime Minister and a global leader, he cannot achieve that by a team that is mediocre. He must encourage talent and look for himself the success he has achieved after getting Dr S Jaishankar to be India's foreign minister.

If Chief Minister 'a' did not deliver in many months and years, why trust him for eternity? If A K Mishra is unable to do much; the government should opt for a new man --- maybe even a former military man -- who has handled insurgency menace in the northeast earlier.

For his part, Ravi is also not quite happy in Chennai, nor is Chief Minister M K Stalin. Ravi may be brought as a union minister or as a special advisor attached to PMO and again given the necessary mandate to work on the Naga issue. This will be a veiled message to the conspiracy club too.