Kohima:The Nagaland Tribes Council (NTC) has stated that there is ‘no justification’ for the State Government to give recognition to Gaidinliu over ‘genuine bona-fide pioneers of modern Nagaland.’
In a press release issued by NTC media cell stated that ‘While giving such recognition to a non indigenous person, the State has done injustice to the leaders of the State.’
It pointed out that the State Government of Nagaland with 60 MLAs from Nagaland State has given ‘much priority to keep the memory of Gaidinliu by building a Memorial Hall at Kohima at the cost of state’s exchequer.’
The NTC wondered what are ‘considered’ as the ‘contributions’ of Gaidinliu to the ’cause of Naga National Movement or the movement of Nagaland Statehood?’ According to the NTC, Gaidinliu ‘became popular in her Rongmei community to succeed Haipou Jodanang as the new Cult leader.
She resisted the invasion of East India Company of Britain not because of political aspiration but because of her religious assertion.’ Further, it stated that she faced ‘challenges from conversion of her followers to Christianity, which she found to be a threat to her Cult.’
In that, the NTC maintained that ‘The kind of culture to her Cult is alien to animism not to speak of Christianity.’ Under no circumstances, asserted the NTC, will it ‘allow’ Nagaland to be ‘converted into a launching pad for such Cult as Heraka or alien culture of Idol worship.
The NTC remained disgruntled that in the 51 years of statehood, Nagaland has not honoured any ‘son of the soil’ by installing ‘even a bust of individual not to speak of that magnitude of memorial building costing more than Rs. 9 crores in the State Capital.’ ‘Such tribute to be paid to any leader of the state should be a person of extra ordinary eminence whose sacrifices for fellow Nagas of Nagaland were extraordinary and cannot be matched,’ it stated. (UNI)
