Dimapur: Former Nagaland Chief Minister and ex-Governor of Gujarat, SC Jamir, has said that only a national party with a broad vision can deliver in his State.
“I srongly believe that only national party can lead the people towards a better future for Nagaland. We need to speak and act and make Nagaland equal if not superior to other states,” Jamir told ‘Organiser‘ in an interview.
He said such a feat could be achieved only when our thinking and mindset are in tune with both “national and international rhythm”.
Answering questions, Jamir said, “Therefore I believe people should realise the importance of parties like the BJP”.
He further stated: “Only people and parties with broad national vision can deliver but our people are still not realising this. The 2023 polls are thus opportunities we should speak out and let politics take the right direction. We desperately need total overhaul”.
The veteran leader also said – “The Eastern Nagaland issues and developments are really painful and a bad omen”.
In the context of elections, thus he said, “leaders responsible for bringing Nagaland to this stage and Nagas face such a humiliation should be punished”.
To another question, like an elderly statesman Dr Jamir said, “We are at a critical juncture….this is not the time to criticise each other. But this is the time to deliver and election time, people should deliver a decisive mandate and create the foundation for a legislature and government that will be sincere and accountable”.
The veteran Naga leader and the last surviving Signatory to the 1960 Statehood Agreement ridiculed Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio for his statement on additional seats for the state assembly.
“It is ridiculous to claim such a thing at this juncture. Moreover, it is ridiculous to claim these as achievements. Additional 20 assembly seats will be only adding to the state burden,” Jamir said.
He said the issues pertaining to the number of seats for the Nagaland Legislative Assembly had figured at talks even in the 1950s and 1960s.
“We referred to the Article 170 of the Indian Constitution. It is stated maximum size of a state legislature can be 500 and minimum 60…So we decided to have 60. Mizoram even has 40. Our issue in Nagaland is not the size of the assembly. We have to understand this”.
He said the Article 170 of the Constitution was examined: It reads – Composition of the Legislative Assemblies-Subject to the provisions of Article 333, the Legislative Assembly of each State shall consist of not more than five hundred and not less than sixty members chosen by direct election from territorial constituencies in the State.”
“The negotiating Body of Nagas accepted sixty Assembly Constituencies as enshrined in the Constitution. This is how we are having 60 Assembly Constituencies in Nagaland. It was neither on the basis of population nor size of the State.”
Moreover, S C Jamir said, “population alone or is not the best criterion to decide about numbers of assembly seats. In other constituencies across India there are a large number of population unlike Nagaland”.
S C Jamir also said in response to a question, “Even today, constituencies in Nagaland are very small compared to other states of the country.”
He also said rather mockingly that Nagaland legislators do not have much work to do. “The assembly sessions are held for three days or a week and where there are no issues to discuss. Additional seats will be a burden as this will only put pressure on state exchequer”.
Jamir also said the demands for 20 additional seats by Naga groups were initially made under Nagalim to cater to Nagas of Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, and Nagas of Nagaland.
Therefore, he said, “To get additional assembly seats will not be a political achievement, it will be political and economic burden only. And the Naga intelligentsia and younger generation should realise these aspects very well”.
“That way 60 seats are sufficient for Nagaland and so why should we add other seats which were earmarked for areas outside Nagaland”.
Moreover, having very small numbers of assembly constituencies will be futile as it will lose “dignity”.
However, to a question, he welcomed the proposal to increase the number of seats in Parliament and said, “It is correct we should at least have three. In 1960, we proposed two. It was agreed in principle and it was to be done during the delimitation exercise”.
“Now it is abundantly clear that Integration of Naga areas shall not be there. This subject did not figure in the Framework Agreement of 3rd August 2015. What then is the political advantage to overload Nagaland by bringing other loads. What is the rationale or raison d’tre in getting jubilant about this ?,” Jamir said.
The former Chief Minister also said he had criticised the Rio government last year for increasing the number of districts.
“Look today Eastern Nagaland has walked away despite having six districts and thus it was a lack of confidence in the Rio government only. What is needed is political sagacity and good governance and I will insist even that the Govt of India should also understand this,” S C Jamir added.
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