Ahead of the Assembly polls likely next month, Minister of State for HomeKiren Rijiju, the BJP’s election in charge for Nagaland, says the government does not want to link talks with the NSCN(IM) to the elections.
As election in charge for Nagaland, how do you propose to shape the campaign?
This [election] is special and challenging as talks are going on between the NSCN-IM and our interlocutor [R.N Ravi]. While talks are going on, many people expect it to conclude fast and the election process to start thereafter. We don’t want to link the talks with elections. Elections are a democratic process. There is an NDA government in Nagaland, where BJP is only a minor party. We got only one MLA elected last elections. The Naga People’s Front (NPF) also got into trouble because of internal conflicts and divisions. Even though Chief Ministers changed, the NDA government remained there.
What about seat adjustment?
We have not started the talks on seat adjustment, but we will definitely have a bigger share this time but we will not be unreasonable. During the elections in 2012, the BJP fought in very few seats, whereas in 2007 we won seven seats. An NDA government is absolutely necessary in Nagaland because the Congress that ruled the State for so long has failed miserably.
The Naga people are aspiring for peace, and peace is possible only if we go with the plan adopted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who, within five months of assuming power, had signed a framework agreement with the NSCN-IM. Of course, not every section of society and underground groups are endorsing the talks, but since it has been going on for long with the NSCN-IM, we cannot break it and have to continue with it.
In the framework agreement we have made one thing clear —that sovereignty which the Naga rebels were asking for, will not be granted nor is it part of the discussions. The talks will be within the framework of the Indian Constitution. The BJP coming to power with a bigger share of seats in Nagaland is necessary for peace and economic development.
What is the status of talks on the Naga Accord?
While talks are going on, we cannot disclose the status.
When you had signed the framework agreement, it was said that only a few things remained to be stitched up.
The process has been simplified which is good, but sometimes, the whole issue will focus on one point. As we say, the rope is as strong as the weakest point. So while the talks are going on, it may get stuck on one point; its not like everything is over and just one point is remaining, and that it would be a small task. That is not necessarily so.
U.P. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has said that if Karnataka Chief Minister Siddharamaiah is a Hindu, he should ban beef in the State. These issues are bound to have a resonance in the three northeastern States, where beef is part of the cuisine and there are large non-Hindu populations. How will you reconcile these positions?
Even if they [Congress] raise these issues, we will not allow them to deflect people’s minds from the real issues. India has different regions with different characteristics, habits, culture and background. We must be sensitive to the sentiments of people in different regions. In Karnataka, a majority of the people have a particular ingrained sentiment that is for that area and it must be respected. You cannot replicate slogans for Karnataka in Nagaland. The BJP is catering to the needs of all sections of society. How can you compare apple and mango?
But Gau Mata (cow) is the same ...
Yogi ji has said what he did in Karnataka, not in Nagaland. As long as you care for the sentiment of the particular region, how does it matter? The BJP has respected the sentiment of each section of society in each region of States.
Your party has been accused of homogenising culture across the country via language or eating habits.
Who has imposed anything? There are elements in this country who would keep trying to break India for their electoral benefits, but we will not allow that. BJP will not allow the country to be broken up.
