Our Reporter
Dimapur, Oct. 11 (EMN): Janata Dal (United) supremo and Bihar Chief Minister, Nitish Kumar, on Tuesday said the ceasefire in Nagaland was signed through the appeals of Jayaprakash Narayan, adding that this was a significant achievement and the people of Nagaland remember him for his contributions.
He said that even the younger generation is aware that Narayan participated in the freedom struggle as well as the development of Nagaland by spreading the message of love and peace.
The chief minister of Bihar, however, also expressed regret that the Naga political issue had not been resolved and implemented despite a Framework Agreement being signed in the presence of India's prime minister, and urged the Centre and Naga groups to resolve the issue at the earliest. He assured the people of Nagaland that he would extend his support to bring a permanent solution to the Naga issue.
It may be mentioned that Jayaprakash Narayan, popularly referred to as JP or Lok Nayak, was an Indian independence activist, theorist, socialist and political leader.
While paying reverential homage to JP on his 120th birth anniversary during the All Nagaland Bihari Conference (ALBC) at Dimapur District Sports Complex (DDSC), Kumar stated that Narayan was sent to Nagaland with a team in 1964, and upon arrival, he felt the pulse of the people and showed incredible empathy for the Naga history and origin, prompting him to traverse the length and breadth of the state and interact with the people.
Narayan stayed in Nagaland for three years from 1964 to 1967, during which he spread the message of love and peace among the people, Kumar said.
He said that Narayan’s contribution in many fields is worth remembering, whether it was the freedom struggle or taking the country forward.
Kumar was also pleased to learn that Narayan established the still-operational "Nagaland Peace Centre" in Kohima when he first arrived in Nagaland with the aim of fostering peace and prosperity in the region.
With thousands of people participating in the event, Kumar stated that people from Bihar live and work in Nagaland in large numbers, and that the people of the state should know that they have ‘feelings of love for the people of Nagaland’.
He also emphasised his government's accomplishments in Bihar in various fields and invited the people of Nagaland to visit Bihar and see what his government has accomplished over the years.
At the ALBC, short speeches were also delivered by Minister of Water Resources, government of Bihar, Sanjay Jha and national president of JDU, Member of Parliament and JD (U) leader in the Lok Sabha, Rajiv Ranjan (Lalan) Singh.
The conference was organised to acknowledge the contribution of the natives of Bihar in the political and economic sphere in Nagaland ever since the days of Narayan, who came to Nagaland in 1960s as part of the Centre’s peace mission in the northeast region.
Cultural dances from the Kuki, Yimkhiung , Sumi, and Angami tribes and a Bihar folk dance were also performed at the event.
The conference was jointly organised by Nagaland Bihari Samaj, Bihari Kalyan Samiti and Matri Foundation Nagaland, sponsored by JD (U) Nagaland unit.