EMN
KOHIMA, OCTOBER 23
RAHUL Gandhi believes that the Naga political issue is complex with too many players in the fray. The national youth icon, who is also All India Congress Committee vice president, reportedly made the statement to visiting Naga Students’ Federation leaders in New Delhi recently. Nonetheless, the national leader is said to have assured the Congress government’s serious efforts to solving it. A delegation of the Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) called on All India Congress Committee vice president Rahul Gandhi and Chief Minister of Gujarat Narendra Modi in Delhi and Ahmadabad October 22, according to a press release received here on Thursday.
The NSF leaders ‘apprised’ them of the aspirations of the Naga people for an early resolution of the vexed Indo-Naga political issue. The student leaders also sought support toward the establishment of technical institutions in Nagaland.
NSF’s president Tongpang Ozukum and assistant general secretary Christopher Ltu met with the two national leaders.
During their meeting with Rahul Gandhi at 10 Janpath in New Delhi Rahul Gandhi was apprised of the ongoing political in Nagaland. He was also requested a national or regional technical Institution in Nagaland. According to the NSF leaders, Rahul Gandhi categorically stated that the Indo-Naga Political issue is complex in nature as it involves too ‘many stake holders’. However, the national leader said, the present Congress-led United Progressive Alliance Government is seriously working on it in resolving the issue, the NSF leaders said of the leader.
Rahul is also said to have assured the students’ delegation that he would definitely approach the union ministry in concern for the establishment of a technical institute without delay. The NSF leaders also appreciated Gandhi for showing concern over the issues the students raised and also wished him the best for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.
Later on, the NSF leaders also went to Gandhinagar in Ahmadabad and met the Chief Minister of Gujarat Narendra Modi. Modi is also the prime ministerial candidate of the Bharatiya Janata Party (NJP). The NSF leaders briefed the BJP leader about the ‘step-motherly treatment of the Government of India to the Nagas in many aspects especially on the Naga political issue’. He was also apprised of the need for establishment of technical institutions in Nagaland.
The two national leaders are also understood to have been told to pay ‘special attention’ to the only airport in Nagaland ‘which is the worst maintained airport amongst the 125 airports in India.’ The student leaders said Dimapur airport makes do with single flights, flying 4 days a week with ‘exorbitant fare charges.’ The airport is rather becoming a liability for the Nagas, particularly for the students’ community studying in mainland India.
The NSF said to submit a memorandum concerning establishment of national or regional Institutes, infrastructural development and uplift of Dimapur airport, in Nagaland to the Ministry of Human Resource Development and Ministry of Civil Aviation.
