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Dimapur, Oct. 9 (EMN): Minister for Public Works Department (Housing and Mechanical), Tongpang Ozukum on Saturday said that the spirit of the government of India and the Naga political negotiators on the Naga political issue is ‘different now’ but “the talk is going to begin soon”.
He was addressing a programme on face mask campaign, organised by the Ao Students’ Union Diphupar (ASUD) at Ao Baptist Church Diphupar.
He asserted that the state government after forming an all-party government is “more open to each other and under the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), there is trust and unity among the legislators”.
“Moreover by the wisdom of the government of India, the interlocutor has been changed, and therefore the talk is going to begin very soon and we are hopeful that very soon Nagas will see the solution,” he said.
“If there is a solution, there will be an interim government and we don’t know whether there will be an election or not but it is the urge and cry of the people that a solution should come,” he added.
He also lauded the initiative of the ASUD, saying that the face mask campaign would not only benefit the Naga people but also create more awareness.
He opined that during the first wave of Covid-19, Nagas were careful but when the second wave came, “maybe we were complacent; we took it not so serious, due to which the death toll has multiplied”.
Informing that 99% of Covid-related deaths in the state were among the unvaccinated, he appealed to all the people to get vaccinated. He opined that there was much propaganda on social media and ‘Nagas are so good at defending ourself’.
“We quote Article 19 and 21 of the Constitution of India and claim so much about our personal rights but we should also read section 269 and 270 of the IPC about our duties. Nobody can force to get vaccinated but we should understand our responsibility to get vaccinated,” he said.
The president of ASUD, Imnayanger Jamir, informed that they had made 4000 face masks and would be distributed at 5th mile petrol pump, NRL petrol pump at Purana Bazaar, Clock Tower and Nyamo Lotha road.
The president of Diphupar Ao Senso Telongjem, T Maong Aier, also lauded the youth, saying that ‘initiatives such as this will ignite a spark in our civic senses’.