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Our Correspondent
Kohima, Oct. 15 (EMN): Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on Thursday said that the only way forward for the Nagas to progress and realise its aspirations is through unity and oneness, and urged all to work towards building ‘one Naga family’.
In his keynote address during the ‘consultative meet between the state government and various organisations, political parties and leaders’ in Kohima, the chief minister said: “If Nagas, as a people, are to achieve progress and realise our aspirations as a people, we must come together like today.”
According to Rio, Nagas must accept its biggest challenge—division, cautioning that it leads only to self-destruction.
He called upon the Nagas to ‘cross the bridge of blame’ and move towards a matured approach of collective responsibility for all achievements and failures. ‘Only then, can we move forward, towards a progressive environment of a shared future together,’ he said.
“During the British era, a divide and rule policy was used to govern, which was inherited by India, and till today our society is thoroughly divided, which has created too many groups and organisations leading to different opinions and voices,” he added. Rio called upon all to set aside differences, rise above affiliations and hear the cry of the people. ‘The Naga voice must rise above all other considerations and we need to leave no stone unturned to ensure that we leave a lasting legacy behind, which will be cherished for generations to come,’ he added.
The chief minister said that the people must relentlessly continue to pursue realisation of genuine peace through a “political settlement based on Naga historical and political rights” and on the “unique history and position of the Nagas”. “An agreement that is based on contemporary realities, one that will end violent confrontation and will usher in a future vision that will be built with the genius of the Naga people,” Rio added.
He reminded that ‘we need to begin by truly respecting each other, and make all efforts to strengthen the foundations of real democracy in our society’.
Likewise, Nagas must journey together, towards the political aspirations, under a spirit of mutual respect, a commitment for peaceful co-existence in the society and with its neighbours, and a resolve to adhere to democratic principles, Rio asserted.
He maintained that the ‘consultative meet’ was not only historic, but also sends out a clear message to the government of India and the world that Nagas want genuine peace and continue to strive towards oneness and unity as one Naga family. He hoped that the Naga voice will be heard across boundaries.
While quoting Union Home Minister Amit Shah statement that there will be only one solution to the Indo-Naga political issue, Rio said that this was one of the reasons for the consultative meet. He added that the union minister said this while he, accompanied by Deputy CM Y Patton, had met him on September 19.
“Having understood that there will be only one solution, we need to deliberate and support the peace process, strengthen the negotiations and facilitate the journey towards achievement of this one solution in the earliest time possible,” Rio said.
‘The meeting must signify a new phase where we all collectively aspire to strengthen the pursuit of peace, and the realisation of that one solution,’ he added.
Rio said that the meeting must represent the collective voice of the Naga people, a voice that aspires for true unity, with the clear intent to achieve a political settlement that will usher in a new era of progress, for the present and the future generations of Nagas.
“Naga journey has been long, arduous and filled with pain, suffering and sacrifices. Along the way, there have been significant achievements with stories of triumph, while there have also been failures,” Rio reminded.
The chief minister said that Nagas must come to an understanding that the achievements and failures are all collective.
“While it is important to understand and respect history, it is all the more crucial to focus on the roadmap ahead. We cannot allow ourselves to be tied down with history. We have to move forward and make sincere efforts to journey together as a people,” he asserted.
The chief minister reminded that the Naga journey has reached this far because of the supreme sacrifices, innumerable sufferings, and incomparable contributions of the national workers. ‘Every Naga family, across our homelands, have given our blood and tears, in a journey that has deeply impacted our people, for decades and generations,’ he shared.