Need to sit across the table to justify demands — Minister Temjen Imna Along
Amidst protests over the controversial absorption of 147 assistant professors, Minister for Higher Education and Tourism, Temjen Imna Along, on Tuesday said "I take responsibility but want people to know the full truth"
Minister Temjen Imna Along addressing the inaugural function
of The Mirage Hotel in Kohima on Tuesday. (EM Images)
- KOHIMA — Amidst protests over the controversial absorption of 147 assistant
professors, Minister for Higher Education and Tourism, Temjen Imna Along, on
Tuesday emphasised that stakeholders need to sit across the table to “justify
needs” or demands.
- The minister’s statement comes against the backdrop of
Monday’s state Cabinet's decision to keep the matter of regularisation in
abeyance, even as the protestors demanding the revocation of the December 17,
2024, regularisation order, also temporarily suspended their agitation.
- Speaking at the inaugural function of The Mirage Hotel in
Kohima, Along, in a lighter note, admitted that he gets bewildered whenever he
hears the number 147.
“But I do humbly accept the aspirational rendition of the
people of the state. I, being the minister in charge, take responsibility, but
at the same time, I want people to know the full truth, not some truth, not
quarter truth, or anything,” he said.
- Asserting that the effort of the government of the day, led
by the Chief Minister Dr. Neiphiu Rio, ministers and MLAs, is to ensure good
governance for the people, he maintained that sometimes, it may not be easy for
the government to make decisions.
- “But when the government makes a decision, it is not taken
by chance,” he said.
- “Yesterday, the government deliberated and has put a capable
committee in place to hold deliberations with the stakeholders.”
