Lok Sabha MP S Supongmeren Jamir says every Naga has the right to speak on the Naga political issue
DIMAPUR — Reacting to the controversy surrounding former Chief Minister SC Jamir’s remarks on the Naga political issue, Lok Sabha MP S Supongmeren Jamir said on Wednesday that every Naga has the right to speak on the issue.
He was speaking to media persons on the sidelines of an event at Vihokhu village in Niuland.
“Every citizen of Nagaland and every Naga has every right. It is a continued process of fighting for the rights of the Nagas. So, every Naga leader has every right to speak about the Naga political solution,” he said.
Asked about comments by legislators and Naga political leaders that the former chief minister had no mandate to speak on the issue, Supongmeren said it was a matter of individual perspective.
“That may be their personal perspective. But as a Naga, we all have a right to speak about our Naga political situation,” he said.
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On the Centre’s move to make the singing of ‘Vande Mataram’ compulsory, Supongmeren said such a move would be “totally against the ethics of Christianity”.
He added that, as a secular country, the government of India should not make it mandatory.
On the recent alleged hooch tragedy in Tuensang, in which 11 people reportedly died after consuming illicit liquor, Supongmeren was asked whether it was time for the Nagaland Baptist Church Council to review the Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition (NLTP) Act.
He said the pros and cons of the Act should be examined whenever such incidents occur.
“Any Act is to save lives only. So, the pros and cons have to be considered,” he said.
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