EMN
New Delhi, March 3
Chief Minister TR Zeliang Thursday appealed to Naga people and various political groups to maintain unity and brotherhood so as to resolve the protracted Naga political issue with the Government of India.
The chief minister at the inaugural function of the Noklak Town Council in Tuensang this morning said, for peaceful resolution of the nearly century-old Naga political problem, the most important aspect is to maintain Naga unity and brotherhood amongst the various Naga tribes and political groups.
“If we do not have brotherhood and unity, we will never be strong, and we will not be respected and taken seriously by other people,” he said. “It is also time for all Naga political groups to unite for the common Naga cause, and they should now learn to speak in one voice as one people. Many people believe that our disunity is the main stumbling block to the solution of the Naga problem. And when the Government of India headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is ready to work out a final resolution for the political issue through peaceful means, the ball is now in our court.”
Elaborating on the Naga political problem and the Framework Agreement signed between the NSCN (IM) and the Government of India on August 3 last year, the chief minister maintained that this is not the time to point fingers at each other and start blame game, but time to contribute positively by all sections of the Naga society so that a peaceful, acceptable and honorable solution can be brought about without delay.
“We have experienced enough violence, we have shed enough blood, and we have lost enough precious lives during our struggle. Would we want our children and their children to go through the sufferings we the parents have gone through? Should our legacy to our children be an unsolved, vexed political problem which has lasted for more than three quarters of a century? To my mind, Nagas should leave behind a legacy of peace and progress to our descendants and that would be possible only if we all come together, put our heads together and resolve our political problem. And now is the opportune time especially when we have a Prime Minister who is keen to solve the problem with mutual understanding involving all stakeholders within a short time frame,” the Chief Minister extolled.
Zeliang appealed to all tribes, particularly the tribes in Tuensang and Kiphire districts to maintain peace and harmony.
Highlighting the principal objectives of setting up town councils, the chief minister said it was to establish local self-governance which is to empower the people to take over development of their towns and to manage the same.
“Whatever grants-in-aid are admissible or available will continue to be given by the State Government,” he said much to the delight of the gathering. “But the Town Council will also have to raise its own resources through various taxes and fees to carry out developmental activities in the town such as civic amenities, beautification and other minor works such as drainage, footpaths and repairs of roads.”
On 33% reservation issue, the chief minister said: “Negotiation between the Naga Mothers’ Association and the Government is going on and I am hopeful that the matter will be resolved amicably very soon. Only then, can elections to the Municipal bodies and Town Councils take place so that you have your own elected representatives. There should not be conflict and differences between men and women. We should understand each other’s interests so that together we can work for the betterment of the people and the State. Times have changed and we should change our mindset along with the changed times and realities of modern-day world.”
“We may have domestic differences within the family, but we should peacefully resolve these differences without resorting to fights and litigations. No differences or problems are too big to be insurmountable by understanding, compassion and goodwill,” the chief minister said.
According to Media Cell, CMO, town councils can be set up as per Nagaland Municipal Act, 2001, in towns where population is between 5,000 and 20,000. According to 2011 Census, Noklak has a population of 7,674.
Noklak is the headquarters of the Khiamniungam Naga tribe and is strategically located close to the International boundaries of Myanmar close to Pangsha where an International Trade Centre is established. The watershed ridges of Pangsha ITC are identified as the International borders of Myanmar and India.
Noklak is located 50 km from Tuensang and 320 km (via Mokokchung) from the State Capital Kohima, and is 1,524 metres above sea level.
