Politicians pastime is levelling allegations against their rivals. Their logic, nay approach is simple: “I have made the charge. You prove I am wrong”. In other words, the political jurisprudence that has emerged in India is rather funny. Not the prosecutor but the accused has to prove his guilt, innocence or what have you. Zoramthanga, D. D. Lapang, P. A. Sangma, Manik Sarkar, Mukut Mithi and several others have been in the line of fire in recent weeks. Every one of our politicos swears by commitment to bring peace, by a resolve to end insurgency, by abiding faith in the integrity of the country. And what are they fighting for? Forgetting that to bring back peace in the region should be their prime concern; these leaders are now busy in cornering political opponents. Lapang has been accusing Sangma of hobnobbing with the militants; Sangma claims he has been authorised to do so by the Centre. Manik Sarkar alleges that Zoramthanga is providing safe haven for NLFT militants. Zoramthanga accused him of fuThe greatest casualty of this blame game is the peace initiative. It is the result of a pique. For years, the region did not enjoy a single peaceful day. When it seems that things are changing, with people coming out openly to voice their anger against mindless violence and senseless killing, childish pranks of these senior politicos have not only put a big question mark on the outcome of the initiative, but also make people sad that our leaders are unable to raise above petty feuds.

Not so long ago, people from all walks of life participated whole-heartedly when all the political parties of the region gave a bandh call against violence, and that practically forced the death-merchants to rethink about their strategies. It is because of public pressure that the NSCN (IM) has to come to the negotiating table.

All the gains may come to a naught, if politicians continue to indulge in their present ways. Any peace initiative calls for confidence of all concerned, certainly the protagonists on both sides. Facilitators are not government employees to be given an appointment letter. These are jobs that are best done beyond the glare of TV cameras and the preying eyes of the media. It is time our politicos learn to grow up, appreciate the urgency to give up one-upmanship games.

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