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Our Correspondent
Kohima, Feb. 2(EMN): The president of the Naga National Council (NNC) Adinno Phizo has reminded people that the present struggle in the state has been going on for 73 years since 1947, when “Great Britain relinquished her power in our region and India immediately forgot her past and went on to take over the small country Nagaland.”
She was speaking during the 74th anniversary of the NNC’s formation at Chedema on Sunday. She said India brought in wars but the Nagas defended their country and consequently India signed a Ceasefire Agreement with the ‘Federal government of Nagaland’ in 1964 but later abrogated the ceasefire in 1972.
“They also tried to drive out the people and burned down the villages, but the Nagas came back and built their villages helping one another in community spirit,” she stated.
During those periods, Nagas suffered immensely and died in the hands of Indian armed forces who tried to crush the Nagas, she said. She asserted that even today “the Indian government has been extending the Armed Forces Power Act every six months since its promulgation in 1958.”
“The history of Nagaland is clear that Nagas are not demanding anything from India. It is not a political problem. Nagas love their country and they want peace. Reason must prevail,” she stated.
Phizo also reminded that NNC came into being on February 2 1946 as the Naga people needed to have a name to represent themselves. “NNC is not a political party or a government, but the people are NNC members,” she maintained.
During the time the council was formed, “We have a country of many regions (tribes) but there was no issue of ‘tribalism’ among the people,” she said. She opined that the concept of tribalism came about after “some job seekers among educated people arise.”
‘Our forefathers and the past generation have handed down this beautiful land to the present generation and therefore we should not fail them, “being mindful of that love for the Nagaland and the people,” she said.