Chandrashekhar the Great
SHRI CHANDRA SHEKHAR (Ballia, U.P.) : Mr. Speaker, Sir, just now
some hon’ble Members raised the Manipur issue. Right from the
beginning the attitude of the Government towards Nagaland problem
was objectionable. There are no two opinions that peace should be
restored in Nagaland. I know the Chief Minister of Nagaland for years
and few days back he had also met me. Probably it is for the first time
that the Government are holding a talk on the Nagaland issue and the
Chief Minister of that State is not aware of it. Whatever may be the
shortcomings of the Chief Minister of Nagaland, he is the only person
who has been asserting for last 20-25 years that Nagaland is a part and
parcel of India—whether it was the time of Phizo or somebody else. I
had visited Nagaland even at that time when Michael-Scott, Jaiprakashji
and Phizo were holding talks. If the Government believe that there is a
Government in the State and there is a Chief Minister there, then who
are holding talks on Nagaland issue without informing the Chief Minister
of the State while it is the question of unity of the nation. Hon’ble
Minister is present here, I am not ready to support those persons who
want to give too much importance to States and it is on this pretext that
daily the Government make a statement who are those persons with
whom they are holding talks? Probably a few people know them in
Nagaland. Why talks are held in Bangkok with a person who is spreading
mania. Why the talks are being held outside instead of holding the same
in the country? It means that we are deliberately creating trouble. Just
now the hon. Prime Minister made a statement. Our conduct encourages
such elements who think that the Government could be pressurised on
any and every issue. It is but natural that the people of Manipur will be
agitated over whatever has been done by the Government under such a
pressure. The same tendency has been seen in the people of Nagaland.
The Government have brought the nation to such an adverse position
that if efforts are made to restore peace in Manipur, there will be
disturbance in Nagaland. I would not like to complicate the matter any
further. The hon’ble Minister is present here. I would especially like to tell hon’ble Pramod Mahajan ji that some solution to the problem should
be found out with the help of the people belonging to all political parties
who are in contact with the people of those States. Please keep in mind,
the situation is out of control of the Prime Minister and the Home
Minister, rather it is now in the hands of the people and it seems that it
is not possible for the present Government to tackle the situation. I am
sorry to express this. Please console the people of Manipur otherwise
as has been said by our hon’ble friend the situation in Nagaland may
further deteriorate.