A rejoinder to Moa Longkumer on “Nagas: Are we anti or pro-development”

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he NTC is astonished to read the opinion posted in the local dailies on October 5 & 6, 2014 in the person of Moa Longkumer, a concerned youth on the caption “Nagas: Are we anti or pro-development”. Our simple answerer to your naïve question is “The Nagas including the retired and frustrated leaders and politicians and a youthful Moa Longkumer are all for development”. In regards to your allegation that NTC “been funded by some vested interested groups to meet their whims and fancies” and your serious concerns raised on the individuals and “unscrupulous people writing in print media criticizing every step of the government and other civil societies without realizing that we are the pillars of the government”. If you are indeed a pillar of the Government, then you are equally responsible for all the mess you have collectively created against the will and wishes of the Nagas of Nagaland. The NTC would be obliged to have open and fair discussion with you along with the identity of those vested interested groups or individuals to clear the cloud spread by you, please don’t shy away.The NTC per se is not necessarily trying to position ourselves for the sake of being an entity or recognition from anyone but represents the will and wishes of the Nagas of Nagaland and to protect our inherent rights and privileges. We are equally concerned about our slow pace of developmental activities in the State of Nagaland which is contaminated by manipulations, mismanagements and corruptions at all levels paralyzing the whole developmental activities and most of the projects are either incomplete or hold for an indefinite period of time waiting for conscious citizens to break their silence. However, the developmental activities are in continuous trend, and how suddenly the government discovers that developmental activities cannot proceed without relaxing the protective laws of the land. Mr. Moa may kindly educate the citizens of Nagaland on the importance of crucial protective laws of the land and how important it is to relax those fundamental laws to give permanent settlement to outsiders who will become legitimate citizens of the state with equal political rights and privileges at par with the sons of the soil in the state of Nagaland. While sharing your concern on the need to develop the state, the NTC may like to know what necessitate the state to relax or dilute our basic and protective laws. Why do we have to voluntarily infringe Article 371(A)? Why relax BEFR (ILP), 1873 Act? Why violate Nagaland Land and Revenue Regulation Act, 1978 which protect the citizens from outsiders’ intrusions. Why the custodians of our laws turn hostile and take position against the interest of the citizens? What is development, if indigenous people are reduced to landless in our own soil? Indigenous people without land have nothing left. Please answer these few questions before attacking the voice of the people. The NTC would be more satisfied to have debate in person with a learned and large hearted mercenary in the person of Moa Longkumer for clarity on the issues which is in public domain. Media Cell, NTC