Dimapur, Jan. 24 (EMN): Organisations and leaders cutting across political lines have mourned the demise of former Member of Parliament and minister Melhupra Vero, commonly known as M Vero, who passed away on January 24 at Dimapur.
They have eulogised him as an upright leader who devoted his entire life for the welfare of Naga society.
NLA Speaker in-charge: Speaker in-charge of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly, Sharingain Longkumer has eulogised Melhupra Vero as a dynamic public leader who dedicated his life for the welfare of the Naga people in various positions as a social worker, legislator and parliamentarian and as a minister.
Longkumer has described him as a role model of hard work, commitment, and selfless service for the benefit of the people. He lamented that in his death, the state has lost a committed leader who championed the cause of the people tirelessly throughout his long years of public life. He added that the loss would be felt greatly by the Naga people in general and the Chakhesang tribe in particular.
He, on behalf of the members of the Thirteenth Nagaland Legislative Assembly, conveyed condolence to the bereaved family members. He further prayed to the Almighty God to grant solace and comfort them in their hour of grief.
Patton: Deputy chief minister, Y Patton, while mourning the demise of M Vero, described him as an efficient parliamentarian and a highly regarded social activist, who dedicated his time for the service of the people when Nagas were going through difficult times.
He lamented that in his death the Nagas have lost a visionary and a selfless leader. He, on behalf of the BJP legislators, conveyed condolence to the bereaved family and prayed for the departed soul to rest in peace.
KG Kenye: Rajya Sabha MP, KG Kenye has described M Vero as an honest and straight forward leader, who had contributed his selfless service for the cause of Naga people in different capacities. Kenye stated that in his demise the Naga people have lost a tall leader and a fatherly figure.
Kenye further conveyed condolence to the bereaved family members and prayed for the departed soul to rest in eternal peace.
NDPP: President of Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP), Chingwang Konyak recalled his association with M Vero since the days of the NNO in the late 1960s and described him as a jovial, kind-hearted person ready to sacrifice his personal comforts for the cause of the society.
Konyak lamented the loss of a personal friend and regretted his inability to call on him when he was not feeling well in recent times.
He, on behalf of NDPP, conveyed condolence to the bereaved family members and prayed to the Almighty to grant them solace and comfort in their hour of grief.
Neiba Kronu: Minister of Planning and Coordination, Land Revenue, and Parliamentary Affairs, Neiba Kronu stated that M Vero had immensely rendered his service to the society in various capacities as a veteran politician and a social worker. He also served as a member of Indo-Naga Peace Mission during 1956-57.
Kronu lamented that Nagas have lost a noble, honest and dynamic leader who was an inspiration to all in his demise. He further conveyed condolence to the bereaved family members and prayed for his soul to rest in peace.
NPCC: President of Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC), K Therie has likened the demise of M Vero to a fall of protection wall, whose way of taking on problems was always simple and nice.
Therie has described him as a committed Congress voter till his physical inabilities overcame him. In his last innings in social politics as president of Naga Hoho, he did all within his power to unite the Naga national workers, Therie stated. He has termed it ‘unfortunate’ that the Naga national workers hardly respected his call for unity. “If he has any regret in life, it is the division of Naga national workers, he witnessed’ Therie added.
He further conveyed condolence to the bereaved family members and prayed that the Almighty God would grant strength and comfort them in their hour of pain and sorrow.
Wangyuh Konyak: Former Lok Sabha MP, Wangyuh Konyak too has mourned the demise of M Vero. He lamented that his passing away has created a vacuum in Naga society in general and Chakhesang community and fraternity of parliamentarians in particular. He has further conveyed condolences to the bereaved family members and prayed for the departed soul to rest in peace.
CHK: Chakhesang Hoho Kohima (CHK) has termed M Vero as one of the tallest Naga leaders hailing from Chakhesang community.
It stated that Vero had served as president of Chakhesang Public Organisation from 1982-84 and later as the first Naga Hoho president from 1998-2004. He was accolade the prestigious Padmashree Award by the President of India in 2006.
Stating that he had made many contributions and sacrifices for Naga society in general and to the Chakhesang community in particular, it said his legacy would continue to lives on. The hoho further conveyed condolence to the bereaved family and prayed to the Almighty God to grant eternal rest to the departed soul.
CBCC: Chakhesang Baptist Church Council (CBCC) has described M Vero as one of the pioneer public leaders among the Chakhesang community whose leadership was well recognised both in the national and state politics.
It stated that Vero proved himself to be a very accomplished public leader and had richly contributed to the uplift of the socio-economic development of the society. It lamented that in his death the Chakhesang community has lost a great leader and a faithful figure whose vacuum would be difficult to fill.
CBCC further conveyed condolence to the bereaved family and prayed for God’s comfort in their hour of grief and bereavement.
NMA: Naga Mothers’ Association (NMA) has described M Vero as an upright man and a true Naga leader, who devoted his life for the society. It stated that he had deep concern for the younger generation and encouraged women leaders to create space within the Naga society.
Besides, it termed him as a man far beyond his times, an unparallel personality and a charismatic leader. NMA further conveyed condolence to the bereaved family members and prayed that Almighty God would grant strength and comfort them in their hour of grief.
NCD: Naga Council Dimapur (NCD) lamented that in the demise of M Vero, Nagas have lost an extraordinary person who showed the skills of leadership and great determination adding he had more to offer in future.
It stated that he had been a well known and respected person for many years and would be remembered as an extreme pleasant and effective leader.
NCD further conveyed condolence to the bereaved family members and prayed for the departed soul to rest in peace.
NSCN (IM): NSCN (IM) has described M Vero as a stalwart Naga public leader who leaves no stone unturned to show his love and concern for the Naga issue by appealing to the Naga national political groups to reconcile through the spirit of forgive and forget.
“With this objective in mind he toured to far-off places like Kathmandu, Bangladesh border, Myanmar, Atlanta (USA) and Bangkok,” stated NSCN (IM) chairman Q Tuccu through its MIP. It added that he never wavered in his effort for Naga unity to hasten the process of Naga political solution.
As a founding president of Naga Hoho, Vero proved himself as a man for the Nagas and undertook extensive tours in Nagaland, neighbouring states and shuttling between Kohima and New Delhi, it added.
NSCN (IM) further conveyed condolence to the bereaved family members and prayed that the Almighty God grant them the strength and solace in their hour of grief and sorrow.
