Staff Reporter
Dimapur, August 4
The main reason behind the disunity of the people of Nagaland is the existence of ‘too many voices’ and ‘too many authorities’ with no single plan to bringing changes in the society, said Odisha Governor SC Jamir. He was addressing the media at his farmhouse at Chumukedima today.
Jamir lamented that his biggest worry was in seeing that the potential and energy of the people which could have played an important role for the country was being ‘utilized unwisely.’ The entire governance in the State has been ‘shattered’ and left with no law and order, he said.
According Jamir, the Naga political leaders should have commitment in bringing positive changes.
When queried if he saw any changes in Nagaland, he said the only change was the ‘change for the worse’ where the feeling of oneness among the Nagas no longer exists. There are too many groups, each with different authorities and rules. This is confusing the minds of the people of Nagaland completely, he stated. The former Nagaland chief minister also noted that although Nagaland was one of the smallest states of India, the State could be an asset for the country. ‘…but because of too many views and opinions among the people, the Centre is always left at a confused position for which no proper solutions could be brought in and also because the State itself is living in a ‘disunited’ position where problems in every corner never seems to cease.
The Governor also noted that the present problems faced by the citizens of the State are ‘basically and mentally the political problem’ while the voices of the common people have been left ignored. Over the years, Jamir said, the voice of the people had been subdued where the matter of speaking the truth in open had become a taboo.
He said if the problems faced in the State were discussed among the entire Nagas by involving even the grass roots people and present the issue in a single voice, the problem would not be left unsettled. For such changes to take place, ever individual should share the burden, he opined.
Jamir was also of the view that the only mandated party which can play a vital role in bringing positive changes in Nagaland is the Nagaland Legislative Assembly. The assembly can resolve to form a fresh impartial expert body that would have the ability to organize a Naga convention ‘wherein the body should also digest problems in order to bring solutions in the state.’
When asked about the border dispute between Nagaland and Assam, Jamir said the ‘peaceful historic agreement’ with the Assam government during his time was no longer existent. However, he said it was ‘meaningless to quarrel’ and advised building a strong inter-state relationship.
On the Nagaland Special Development Zones (NSDZ) issue, Jamir, one of the most important figures behind the forming of the 16-Point Agreement, was of the view that the main objective behind the plan of establishing the foothill road was to create township in all the remote places of the State by helping the people from these places to stand on their own feet.
His opinion was that though Dimapur is the commercial hub of Nagaland, it alone cannot help for the survival of all the people of Nagaland. He was also of the view that if our land was kept open to any industry “who wish to buy our land”, then Nagas along with their land will be swallowed by the outsiders.
Jamir further pointed out that the potentials of our young upcoming Naga youth should not be undermined and they should not believe that only outsiders can bring development in the State. In support to this, he stated that Nagaland was a young State which recently turned 50 years.
“With time, our people will also prosper but if our precious lands are given away to outsides without thinking about our future, then the Nagas will one day live in the land of outsiders even within the State,” he said. He also said while the State cannot prevent outsiders from coming in, proper norms and laws need be enforced to control it. If Article 371(A) is obliterated, then the objective of the people who started this movement will be destroyed, he added.
During the short meet with the press people, Jamir said politics are changing fast with the fast-changing world. There is a need to distinguish between idealism and realism, he said while advising political leaders to work with ‘realistic approach’. The past should be reoriented to suit the present needs and conditions, Jamir cautioned.
