PFI’s political challenge; Confusing Rahulspeak; Resuming Naga talks
Opinion Watch
PFI’s political challenge
The Popular Front of India has carved out a social and political space in Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, while being on the scanner of security agencies.
The Indian Express in its Editorial quoted from the findings of the nationwide raids by the National Investigative Agency that “the PFI leaders were involved in funding of terrorism and terrorist activities, organizing training camps for armed training and radicalising people to join banned organisations”.
The daily stated that the PFI members were involved in political murders as well as attacks, including on the college teacher T J Joseph for allegedly defaming the Prophet.
The New-Delhi headquartered daily sought to attribute the rise of the PFI to the Centre banning SIMI, a radical Muslim youth organization, and squeezed political space for the minority community in the changing electoral ecosystem following demolition of Babri Mosque. Thus, the daily reasoned that the PFI poses a political challenge.
“The PFI was formed in 2007 through the merger of National Democratic Front in Kerala, Karnataka Forum for Dignity and Manitha Neethi Pasrai in Tamil Nadu,” noted the daily, adding that the PFI’s political wing the Social Democratic Party of India is active in electoral politics.
There cannot be any rationalization for indulgence in terror activities, and accused must face full might of the law. There’s also a clear political consensus for zero tolerance against terror. That makes it incumbent upon the NIA to wrap up investigations in top speed, and the Election Commission must scorch electoral fields for such outfits.
Confusing Rahulspeak
There is no official word yet that the next president of Congress will be a non-Gandhi, and all media stories are essentially interpretation of a few utterances.
The Times of India has called ‘Rahulspeak’ confusing, for he hasn’t been direct in answering questions concerning top speculation about the party.
The daily claimed that ‘Rahulspeak’ is creating confusion. It further argued that any suggestion that Rahul would wield power without responsibility would be a weapon in the hands of the opposition parties.
The ToI referred to the ‘weak PM’ plank of the Bharatiya Janata Party against former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to drive home its arguments.
Bharat Jodo Yatra is truly a re-launch project of Rahul Gandhi and suggestions that he would make ways for Ashok Gehlot have contrarian objectives.
Resuming Naga talks
The Centre-Naga peace talks must be the longest exercise in the country, testing perseverance of the Centre, surviving changes of governments in New Delhi.
Deccan Herald has welcomed the decision to resume negotiations between the Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah faction) and the government after a gap of over three years.
Demand for greater Nagalim and a separate flag by the insurgent groups are the sticking points in talks.
The Bengaluru-headquartered daily recalled that Naga National Council under ZA Phizo had declared independence for Nagaland on August 14, 1947, while the NSCN (I-M) entered into a ceasefire agreement with the government in 1997.
“The Framework Agreement signed between the government and the NSCN (I-M) in 2015 after prolonged talks was expected to serve as the basis of a final settlement,” added the daily.
The challenge, however, is the emergence of too many splinter groups, noted the daily.
Indian Constitution has been seen to have depths to address aspirations of diverse identities, and Nagas too can surely see fulfilment of their wishes in India, for their extremist positions could only be good for poetry and not politics.
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