EMN
Dimapur, August 4
Chief Minister TR Zeliang today appealed to Naga people to protect and uphold the unique history and identity and to stand by the principle of “One People, One Vision and One Goal.”
“Let us do our best to leave behind a worthwhile legacy for which future generations will remember us with gratitude for what we have done. Let us come together to share our feelings, our views and aspirations so that collectively, we may find better and more effective ways of facilitating the Naga peace process and come to a settlement which is honorable and acceptable to Nagas as a whole,” Zeliang said in a statement issued by Media Cell CMO.
On the challenge and responsibility placed on the shoulders on the Naga people by the Prime Minister that Nagas are not only to build a bright future for Nagaland, but with talents, traditions and efforts, Zeliang urged the people to make the nation stronger, secure, inclusive and prosperous.
Appealing the Nagas to play the role of the guardians of the nations’ eastern frontiers and gateway to the world beyond, the chief minister said, Nagas must seize the opportunity to rise up to the occasion and stoutly take up the trust and responsibilities placed squarely on shoulders by the nation. “We must not shy away, or shirk from the expectations of the nation, but endeavour to the best of our God-given abilities to make our society a better place for ourselves and the coming generations – it is now incumbent on us to reflect the traditional pride, self-respect and confidence that we Nagas are proud of and known for the world over, by our collective wisdom in the days to come,” he said adding, “we have to seriously introspect on our strengths and weaknesses and mend our ways as is expected of us by the nation and the world; and at the same time, the most important thing before us now is to sink our petty differences and strive concertedly for the greater good burying the hatchets and forgetting the hurt caused to each other in the past if at all any.”
Later, addressing the NPF CEC meet in the afternoon at Kohima, chief minister said that the declaration of the Naga Peace Accord signed yesterday was “a welcome news”, saying this was “definitely a result of our collective efforts and pressures by all concerned during the last 17 years of the Naga political dialogue.”
“You are aware of how the tempo of the political dialogue has been pushed forward during the last one or two months,” he pointed out.
It may be mentioned here that Zeliang’s ministry is credited for the formation of Nagaland Legislators’ Forum on Naga Political Issue on May 25 to carry the voice of the House to all stakeholders and also constituting of the Nagaland Parliamentary Working Committee comprising all political parties in the Assembly, a delegation of which consisting of 19 legislators went to New Delhi to meet the prime minister and other top functionaries of the union government to convey the need to have a peaceful atmosphere and also to settle the Naga political issue at the earliest.
On the Peace Accord, chief minister said, “Although we are no yet aware of its content, I want to appeal to everybody not to have a negative thinking, either on the Prime Minister and the Government of India, or on the leadership of the NSCN (IM).”
“For me, I firmly believe that Narendra Modi, Prime Minister has a healthy attitude and respect towards the Nagas, and he will never do what is bad for the Nagas. Rather, we should all congratulate the Prime Minister for taking such a bold and positive decision in the style of a true statesman,” he said.
“At present, it appears that only the broad framework of the agreement has been worked out. But I am confident that once the detailed modalities are worked out by the parties concerned, we will all be consulted before finalizing them. So, let us hope that better and more positive situations will roll out of the Naga Peace Accord and that we will be able to see the dawn of peace and development in Nagaland very soon,” chief minister said.
