Protecting Article 371 (A) not to lose identity

Our Correspondent Mokokchung, November 5 The parliamentary secretary for Geology and mining, Dr Imtiwapang Aier on Thursday evening cautioned that if the people ‘do not protect Article 371 (A) then we may become the lost tribe of India in the near future.’ The legislator was speaking at a local event called ‘Imchen Mungdang’ which got under at his native village Sungratsü, under Mokokchung district on November 5. Citing the recent auction of two oil blocks in Nagaland by the government of India, which drew opposition from chief minister, TR Zeliang, Aier said 371 (A) recognized the Naga identity, culture, tradition and right over land and its resources. He cautioned that if Article 371 (A) was ‘weakened by us and if the government of India derecognized and divert it in the near future, we might become the lost tribes in India.’ “It may take 100 to 200 years, so we have to be cautious from now onward,” he urged the delegates. The parliamentary secretary lauded the Imchen Mungdang for organizing the conference and said ‘these days different sections of people are venturing out to trace their migration routes using scientific research means such as DNA testing, carbon-dating across the nations.’ He urged the delegates not to stick to their origin in ‘this confined state of Nagaland but to support researchers, who are now on a trail to trace the migration route of our ancestors.’ Aier added that the conference should not be a ‘formality conclave’ but a conference to ‘introspect / retrospect.’ He urged the conference to ‘pass a resolution which will be beneficial to all the Nagas in common.’