Need to sit across the table to justify demands — Minister Temjen Imna Along

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• Minister Temjen Imna Along addressing the inaugural function of The Mirage Hotel in Kohima on Tuesday. (EM Images)

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• 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.
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• 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.
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• 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.
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  “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.
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• 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.
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• “But when the government makes a decision, it is not taken by chance,” he said.
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• “Yesterday, the government deliberated and has put a capable committee in place to hold deliberations with the stakeholders.”

Related: Nagaland Cabinet puts on hold regularisation of 147 assistant professors and librarians

Protestors reject Cabinet decision to keep regularisation order in abeyance; demand revocation of order

• “Our community is not only for what is right, but our community is also committed and persistent in the peaceful invocation of one's needs and aspirations, by sitting across the table and justifying our needs,” he added.
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• Congratulating the partners of the hotel, the minister said that, “this is a journey that Nagaland needs to embark on in startups and entrepreneurial dreams.”
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• Stating that not everyone is privileged to have influence or the means to make their dreams come true, Along exhorted the partners and staff of the establishment to set an ambience that makes people feel happy and invited.
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• Thejangulie Tsükrü, partner, The Mirage Group and Rajni Gill, CEO of Mint Hospitality, Delhi, also spoke on the occasion.