‘We are opposition-less, why can’t Naga leaders, groups?’

According to rhetoric, the Nagaland government could become ‘opposition-less’ but why the Naga groups and people can’t unite remains a question. Still, the state has
sought inputs from Naga “leaders” to what is being called the ‘final agreement process’ to solve the Naga political issue, reports Our Correspondent Imrong Aier

Sungratsu/Longmisa, May 2

The Chief Minister of Nagaland TR Zeliang on Monday said that the 60 elected members of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly was ‘able to unite and form the opposition-less government was to seek an early solution for the Naga political problem.’
Without elaborating, the chef minister has solicited “suggestions” for Naga “leaders” for the ‘final agreement process.’
He was addressing the Moatsu festival at Sungratsu village in Mokokchung district at the chief guest of the event.
“Government of India has recognized the unique history of the Nagas. Even Prime Minister of India, Modi has decided to solve the Naga problem and has signed the framework agreement,” he added.
TR Zeliang also claimed that the agreement was based on the recognition of the ‘unique history of the Naga for the final agreement process.’
The politician urged ‘right thinking Naga leaders,’ to give their suggestions for the “final agreement process.”
“It is time for suggestion not criticism,” he asserted.
The chief minister also lamented the splitting of the undergrounds into factions and the subsequent disunity among them ‘although the 60 elected members of Nagaland legislative Assembly are united to seek for an early solution for the Naga.’
“If there is solution, Nagas can move forward without solution we cannot move forward,” he stated.
He also called for preservation of costume and tradition. “If our culture and tradition is loss, there is no respect and other does not recognize us. But if we uphold our culture, tradition and customary system people will recognize and respect us,” Zeliang said.
The chief minister also claimed that the “lifetime achievement award” conferred to him in Indonesia was achieved “because of peoples’ support.”
Returning to locally relevant contexts, the chief minister said that the Asetkong range was also one of the frontrunners in the advancement of education and spread of Christianity in the community; it has produced “many accountable, respectable personalities and prominent leaders” he said.
Besides, Asetkong area is geographically located at the centre of the Ao Naga territories and the topography was ideally located for communication; it has fertile soil ‘which has scope for agriculture’ too.
In this connection, Zeliang urged the people of the range to focus on organic food production ‘which has captured the world market,’ and to prioritize food sufficiency. “If the soil is good, we have to produce good crops,” he said.
Offering more inputs was a press release from the Chief Minister’s Office on Monday. Zeliang asked the Naga people to step forward and “contribute positively to the peace process and to hasten early resolution of the protracted issue saying this is not the time for Nagas to criticize each other but to suggest and opine how best to solve the Naga political problem.”
“We must not miss this opportunity and we must actively and supportively participate in the peace process. It will be futile to complain or object after details of the settlement are worked out by the negotiating parties. It will be in the interest of not only ourselves but our future generations if we now come together, discuss, deliberate and work out a formula which can be taken up further with the Government of India for final settlement.”
The politician claimed that “when bitter political rivals belonging to various opposing parties could come together like the 60 legislators in the Nagaland Assembly did last year for the sake of finding an amicable, honourable and permanent settlement to the protracted Naga political problem, why can’t Naga leaders of various groups and sections come together as one for the good of the Nagas as a whole?”
The chief minister made no reference, in the press release, about the mounting charges of corruption against government departments or officials, the unsolved community disputes; the growing cases of extortion, crime and lawlessness; the tottering policing and justice administration, or the growing outcry over development lapses and welfare discrepancies in the state of Nagaland.