Kohima:Chief Minister T R Zeliang called upon the Sumi Naga community to initiate the process of unifying Naga Political Groups (NPGs or under-grounds) so as to bring in permanent peace in Nagaland.
Addressing a gathering of the Sumis in Dimapur to celebrate Ahuna festival yesterday, Mr Zeliang said that Sumis were in a better position for initiating such a step as most of the NPGs were either headed by them or had the community members occupying impor-tant positions in the groups.
Mr Zeliang said if the community takes such a decision where Sumi ‘national workers’ come together, then 50 per cent of ‘Naga people’s problems’ would be solved.
He also said if Sumi national workers resolved to stop killing among them-selves and others then Nagas can usher in prog-ress, development and permanent peace.
The chief minister poin-ted out that Naga political problem had dragged on for over 60 years and despite there being a cease-fire for over 17 years, there was not much progress in the political dialogue.
He also maintained that the Naga Peoples Front-led Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) Govern-ment was consistently working for more than a decade to facilitate a set-tlement of the Naga political issue that was honourable and acceptable to all.
Mr Zeliang said after he took over as Chief Minister, he had met several key leaders in the Central gove-rnment, including the prime minster and the present interlocutor, during which, he requested them to expe-dite the process of an early settlement of Naga political issue.He said the Central lea-ders had assured him that the issue would be settled in a ‘time bound manner’ and added, that if that hap-pened, Nagas would finally begin the journey of progress and development without any handicaps.
Expressing concern over the unbridled employment of illegal migrants and outsiders by Nagas to replace them to do their daily responsibilities or toil the fields, Zeliang cautioned that Nagas will be in trouble if this practice was to continue.
The CM expressed regret that the present generation employed others to do their work on the field and wait for them to harvest in order to celebrate the traditional harvest festivals.
Industries and Commerce Minister G Kaito Aye, also called upon Nagas to imbibe each other’s culture and tradition so that they could come together as one. He said through such celebrat-ions, Nagas could find a way to come together and stren-gthen brother-hood and bring in unity and peace among the Nagas. (UNI)
