How politicians like Nabam Tuki have put Arunachal in grave danger

For the local Arunachalees who thought the worst was over, the unfolding of the current political drama generates an overwhelming sense of déjà vu. After a gap of four years, politics has again dented the social fabric of the society. Shrewd politicians are once again stoking communal sentiments to execute their diabolical designs. Dignity and pride of the largest Nyishi tribe in Arunachal Pradesh have been bruised. This has flared up communal tension. There is turmoil within the ruling Congress.

Four years ago, there was a similar atmosphere of tension for six months after an innocuous online news report by a little known journalist painted the Nyishi tribe as unfriendly towards the other tribes. This time around, governor JP Rajkhowa and Congress rebel leader and “chief minister-in-waiting” Kalikho Pul have hurt the tribe's image and reputation with their actions and comments.

In all probability, the political history of Arunachal Pradesh is set to witness a repeat of 2011.

After the plane crash on April 30, 2011 that killed the then popular chief minister Dorjee Khandu, his close confidante Jarbom Gamlin was anointed as the chief minister of the frontier state, apparently on the insistence of Khandu’s bereaved family members, though such attribution has never been accepted or denied.

That move of the Congress high command didn’t go down well with Nabam Tuki who felt that he deserved the chair more than anybody else by virtue of being a loyal Congress worker right from his NSUI and Youth Congress days.

The political annals of the frontier state is replete with anecdotes of how Tuki twisted the established norms by camping at New Delhi for six long months to topple Gamlin’s government. Tuki did succeed in unseating Gamlin after the twin cities of Itanagar and Naharlagun were divided on communal lines that led to clashes.

Several people had to flee the capital complex. A person was shot dead in October 2011 during a protest at IG Park. "I didn’t want to sit on that chair when our people were getting divided on communal lines, people were fleeing the capital city, peace was wasted.

As a leader, I should have provided positive direction which I wasn’t able to under those circumstances, since certain section of AICC members were encouraging Tuki to revolt. This happened despite several reports and requests - verbal and writing - to AICC leaders," Gamlin told weeks after his resignation in October 2011.

The discerning people need to look up the internet for reports on how incumbent chief minister Tuki - the leader of a certain section of the society - became the chief minister after a series of public protests in the name of tribal pride and dignity, accusing the then chief minister Gamlin and his family members of planting the “derogatory” report on the Nyishis.

As it emerged later, the sentimental issue that hurt the pride and dignity of the largest tribe of the frontier state was buried once Tuki ascended the chair of the chief minister. Demand for revelation of the source behind journalist’s adverse remark on the Nyishis was shelved. There were at least two investigations carried out but the reports were never made public.

With the current turmoil within the Congress over leadership slowly turning against Tuki as a result of allegations of mostly financial mismanagement leading to overdraft in the state’s exchequer, nepotism and collapsing administration, an unprecedented pressure has been mounted on Rajkhowa and Pul with allegations being levelled against them.

Both have, however, denied the allegations and have already made public their positions, but the apex body of Tuki’s community and several of its frontal organisations aren’t buying their clarifications. They are seeking for the removal of Rajhkowa and an apology from Pul.

Political analysts are unanimous that the environment being created is part of a last ditch effort by Tuki to salvage lost political ground. For Tuki, it’s a winning formula - tried and tested.

It won’t be wrong to state that the template is ready and stage set, but the question is, will Congress president Sonia Gandhi or vice president Rahul Gandhi let Arunachal burn again? If they don't act now, political fortunes of the Congress could be decimated by a rising BJP that has already eroded the foundation of the Congress at the village level.

Politics and power aside, Tuki might do well to remember that he is at the fag end of his chequered career and therefore, this is a golden chance to redeem his past mistakes, or else he shall go down in the political history as the leader who perpetuated divisive ideas and alienated the pluralistic mosaic of Arunachalee society.