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Republic Day Speech by Brig. (Retd) S Singya, Kedahge, Federal Government of Nagaland on 22nd March 2020.
My beloved Country Men and Women,
It is a great honour and a privilege for me to address you on this historic occasion of the 65th Republic Day of our Nation. I thank our Almighty God for His continued Guidance, Sustenance and Protection. I also express my gratitude and our indebtedness to the pioneers for laying a firm political foundation for which we are able to stand up today with dignity and pride.
I pay my homage to the martyrs who have made the supreme sacrifice for the noble Cause and all the Naga patriots for their visions and sacrifices for the long cherished dream.
On this day, on 22nd March, 1956 Nagaland became a Republic when the Naga National Council convened the First Tatar Hoho Session bringing together the Free Nagas represented by the Hongking Government and the erstwhile Naga Hills District represented by the Naga National Council which led to the establishment of the Federal Government of Nagaland. With the National Mandate of 1951 entrusted to them and acknowledging that the Almighty God is the Supreme Sovereign over this world and the authority of the people on the territory is a sacred trust from God, our leaders established our National institution based on the modern principles and ideals of Democracy, Justice, Liberty and Fraternity and instituted the Republic on the concept of the Federal System of Governance.
The momentous Declaration of Naga Independence on 14th August, 1947 and the irrevocable pledge of the Plebiscite of 16th May, 1951 created the foundation and also shaped the political course of our people. We chose to determine, forge and shape our own destiny with dignity, integrity and freedom.
As we commemorate the 65th Republic Day, we celebrate the exemplary lives and courage of our past leaders who have guided us with their vision. The Federal Government of Nagaland remains deeply committed to what our leaders had enshrined for us as a nation. Our history is our inheritance and to achieve our goal we must move forward. The choice before us is to talk about our past and reminisce with regret and avoid following the path charted for us or to place ourselves within the historical framework of the past by placing ourselves in it and follow the path till our historical rights are expressed in full. The Federal Government of Nagaland strongly feels that we must travel back in time to the distant past to reclaim our rights that was declared in unity and trust. We have divided ourselves into so many groups and factions which is a great detriment to the Naga cause.
In the midst of opposition and distrust from others we must free ourselves from our greatest enemy from within, unite once again and with strength proceed forward. There is a future ahead of us and that future is waiting for those who are morally strong, determined and resolute to make it their own.
The Nagas as a people have an ardent desire to live in peace and harmony among ourselves and have always sought to live in peaceful co-existence with our neighbours. The Federal Government of Nagaland also prescribes to this desire of our people and for a peaceful resolution of the Indo-Naga political issue, the Federal Government is actively involved in political dialogue with Government of India as an entity of the NNPGs Working Committee to find a political settlement which is honourable and mutually acceptable. The Working Committee of the NNPGs is the right entity to represent our people and can best safeguard the interest and rights of the Nagas. The Naga people today need to ardently pray to the Almighty to give wisdom and moral courage to the NNPGs leaders in the decision makings. The FGN is pained to observe that a certain section of the Naga Political Group is employing delay tactics and unnecessarily trying to prolong the political negotiations.
All sensible people know that too much procrastinating is harmful and detrimental for solving any human problem. It is also up to the Government of India whether to decide for a political settlement when the entire Naga population is desirous of an honourable and acceptable political solution and restore faith in the Indian system of Democracy as we are also aware that the more than Seven Decade old conflict between the Nagas and India could have been resolved long ago had the Government of India been sincere and serious in resolving it. I believe the time has also come for the Naga people to unite and rally solidly behind the NNPGs and grab the chance for the early solution of the negotiated political settlement based on the mutually resolved issues and continue to democratically pursue the unresolved issues when the opportunity is present. Nagas are a Nation of trustworthy and straight forward people and we expect India to live up to her world image as the largest Democracy in the world. May God’s grace be upon us all and His Wisdom continues to guide and His Will prevails as we continue our journey forward.
God Bless my Nagaland.
Kuknalim.
Issued by,
Ministry of Rali Wali Affairs
Federal Government of Nagaland