NDA Rule : Northeast disillusioned!

Thoudam Imomacha Singh *

The BJP flag at Narendra Modi visit to Imphal on 08 Feb 2014 :: Pix - Deepak Oinam

Terming the people of the North East as immigrants in the vision document of the Bharatiya Janata Party, also known as the BJP, brought out in connection with the Delhi Assembly polls is, indeed, a bombshell.

Let the author refresh the minds of the Indian citizens in Western, Northern and Southern zones of the country about those acts of hooligans in some of the Indian metropolitan cities against people from the North East.

It is because of the simple reason that the people in these areas have Mongoloid looks and they cannot be accepted or treated as banafide citizens of the Indian mainland. Even if the Prime Minister, Mr. Modi has promptly shown his gesture of expressing a sense of regret terming the incident "inadvertent," the Prime Minister's action still stands "unconvincing".

There are no takers of his confession of an error. Because, the goof-up has already tormented the social-standing of any North East individual in the so called Indian society. Indians in other parts have to know the veracity of their brethren in the North East.

Unless it is possible, the history of India needs to be re-written to entertain some commissions and omissions. In matters of killing, assaulting and raping persons from the North East, the New Delhi metropolis has the exceptional reputation of notoriety.

The people of the region (North East) had also believed that Mr. Modi as the Prime Minister of India was pragmatic in dealing with issues concerning the North East. After the immigrant issue the confidence of the people of the region has dashed into oblivion now.

Calling the people of the North East "immigrants" cannot be an inadvertent mistake as the prime minister has promptly said so. Clerical mistake cannot be cited as an excuse on the issue. Now, the question is, the issue must be precisely studied and it also needs to be minutely understood.

It is loud and clear that the NDA formation is now ruling India and on top of this, the BJP has the larger chunk of Lok Sabha MPs. The BJP takes it for granted that the present ruling dispensation is a formidable citadel of rules.

Such a complacency would find no takers. Very truthfully the BJP's error in formulating the "Vision Document" has aroused the ire of the people of the North East. Such an act of utter carelessness on the part of BJP would obviously jeopardize fabrics of Indian nationhood.

The death of a young student from Arunachal Pradesh due to the lethal attack of some local hooligans in New Delhi only months back still lingers in the memory of every soul in the North East. The issue must handled with maturity and fairness so that further erosion of credibility of the BJP could be appropriately checked.

India is an ancient land. But modern thought and idea are the most valued elements that can steadfastly help maintain India's unity under a colourful diversity. Calling the North Easterners "immigrants" in the "Vision Document" of the BJP, which is just like a horoscope of a prominent political party in question, cannot be treated as a simple episode that could be easily jettisoned.

Harmony among the Indian people and unity of the Indian nation are the two most important National Vision Documents. There can be no compromise on such a sacred vision.

A National Commission comprising experts from different fields must be instituted so that Indian's "National Anthem" (Rashtriya Sangeet) could be reviewed so that the names of the states in the North East could be appropriately incorporated.

The NDA Government is believed to be an enlightened one, as such, the author has firm belief that the NDA Government must do something in this direction.

The Government must not render the people of the North East disillusioned. The NDA Government owes a formal apology to the people of the North East for the arrogance of calling them "immigrants".

It would be the best, provided the apology could be done in both the Houses of Parliament.