A new government was sworn in Kolkata on Saturday.

It's a BJP government for the first time in the state. There may be whispering in Nagaland, Meghalaya and Mizoram; how a pro-Hindutva government and the political party have strengthened its grip in a state which is the gateway for the violence-hit Manipur, Nagaland and other states in the region.
The fact of the matter is not many people would be feeling excited about it; forget being optimistic that a well performing BJP Govt in Kolkata can actually result in a series of dividends for the north east.
The Marxists ran a different apparatus for 34 years. In Delhi, the Congress was too busy with its brand of politics. And that always meant politics of Give and Take. Delhi’s Jugadu culture.
That encouraged corruption to the level that for helpless tribals - this greed-related menace became the way of life. “New Delhi till thinks like Aurangzeb’s Delhi,” former Nagaland chief secretary A M Gokhae had said in the 1990s when the Congress and UF governments were in power.
One may sound typically anti-Congress; but the grand old’s track record and development journey was always different. The contractors in Kolkata and Delhi were more important stakeholders than anyone seriously engaged in nation building and social reforms for the development-starved and insurgency-hit region.
From a primordial economy, the north east region is today a 'westernised' world and the use of English is abundant in Nagaland and Meghalaya. Nagaland’s official language is English and it is the only Indian state with that achievement.
A visitor can easily get confused with his or her knowledge on the conventional tribal life and economy of the indigenous people. Northeast India is also an urbane society. In all these, keeping the right balance is a hugely challenging task.
In most cases, the media has struggled though it goes without stating that 'mere survival' in journalism is near impossible and often fatal. In the nineties, the journalists on receipt of 'Threat Missives' in Nagaland used to describe them as 'Love Letters'. However, there is a general refrain that the media should have done more. This was obvious because Congress did not do its part.
Building up emotional bond between Nagas and non Nagas or Mizos and Vai Naupangs (outsiders) were never its priority. It encouraged tribalism and other parochial angles.
In Meghalaya, one politician responsible for outsiders-bashing polity in the 1990s was rewarded big time by the Rao government.
There is still an inherent fear of the 'outsiders'. Media in the northeast in general did not do much to change this mindset. Therefore, a traditional mindset of 'reactionary' resistance to all things that is 'not local' still persist.
To run industry and get your infra projects or to attract investment, you need the so-called 'outsiders'.
The Congress party did not bother about "genuine development". And with regard socio-political contexts, say the mayhem in Manipur; while the BJP did its mistakes, it is also a fact that today's problems are due to Congress folly.
The fact of the matter is people turned parochial and they have lived through that and now they cannot come out of it. What happened in Manipur is not just the happenings of the year 2023. Things started long back. Nagaland is not realising where it has walked into. The delay in finalizing Naga peace talks is a costly venture.
The creation of FNT is an indication of the collapse of mutual faith among Nagas. No pro-Hindu BJP or New Delhi's special agents were responsible for this.
It may be time now therefore to learn something from West Bengal experience.
Under TMC, the violence and syndicate raj became order of the day. Nagaland is confronted with their own version of the same syndicate raj. In Bengal; one quote made significant headway. ---
"Marchhe Musalman, Morchhe Musalman (Perpetrators of violence are mostly Muslims and the victims too).
Closer scrutiny will convince you -- what is happening in Manipur. Tribals are killing tribals.
Where is the so-called tribal brotherhood ? Is it only for chasing out non-tribals.
Hindu Bengalis, Biharis, Gorkhas and even Marwaris have left north east in large numbers. Some of us still love the region bit never think of settling down in towns cradled in the wilds. Why?
Today's generation is caught in a cobweb.
Parochialism has survived. Mufti Mohammed Syed as Union Home Minister under V P Singh had called an apex pressure group in Nagaland, the Naga Students' Federation (NSF) a 'parochial body'. No local or regional media tried to probe into the intricacies involved.
The Khasi Students' Union of Meghalaya at times came under scrutiny of the fourth estate. The state of Meghalaya once saw the slogan -- 'Khasi by birth and Indian by accident'. Senior journalist Patricia Mukhim wrote in 'The Hindu' later -- "The culprits were never caught and no one has been indicted in any of the acts of communal carnage that happened in Meghalaya".
Nagaland's only Christian Governor Dr M M Thomas (from Kerala) had said: " You don't give a second thought to writing against the state (government) fully aware that the state will not retaliate to the extent these anti-national elements would" - as reported in 'Weekly Journal', Kohima - Feb 27, 1991.
There is another angle. In most cases of alleged human right excesses committed by forces, the army and para military forces get the blame. Media will not hesitate to expose such incidents. But political leadership is seldom criticised. Mizoram capital Aizawl was bombed but Indira Gandhi or the Congress party was hardly held accountable.
In 1991-92, in Assam, there was a change in the functioning of the army. While 'Operation Rhino' was launched against ULFA; the forces understood that counter-insurgency operations were as much a 'war of information' as it was fighting with bullets. But around the same time Guwahati had a news outlet which had adopted an outright 'pro ULFA' stance.
In Nagaland yet again, once upon a time, a statement from one potent group even had questioned a sitting Chief Minister's lineage. There was no screening, no editing, but many say journalists have a few options.
BJP can bring transformation
And there is no better way to do it than start with a development-focused regime in Kolkata. Everything is not about Hindutva or opposing it. Time to change the course.
West Bengal's real 'poriborton' can have magical influence in north east provided industries start operating in that state and IT companies set up unit in Kolkata.
Even otherwise last decade in Kolkata has opened avenues for many north east young talent in sectors such as health and tourism.
If Bengal benefits; the rest of eastern and northeastern India will also join the bandwagon provided people know how to react positively.

Email:----------------------------nirendev1@gmail.com