Nagaland chief minister T.R. Zeliang on Thursday made a clarion call to the Naga people and various Naga Political Groups (NPGs) to maintain unity and brotherhood so as to resolve the protracted Naga political issue with the Central government, a press note issued by the CMO media cell stated.
While inaugurating the Noklak Town Council in Tuensang district, Zeliang opined that for peaceful resolution of the nearly century-old Naga political problem, the most important aspect was to maintain unity and brotherhood amongst various Naga tribes and political groups.
“If we do not have brotherhood and unity, we will never be strong, and we will not be respected and taken seriously by other people,” he said.
He also said it was time for all NPGs to unite for the common Naga cause. “They should now learn to speak in one voice as one people”, he added. “Many people believe that our disunity is the main stumbling block to the solution of the Naga problem. And when the Government of India headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is ready to work out a final resolution for the political issue through peaceful means, the ball is now in our court,” he said.
On the Naga political problem and the framework agreement signed between the NSCN (I-M) and Government of India, Zeliang maintained that it was not the time to point fingers at each other and start the blame game, but to contribute positively by all sections of the Naga society so that a peaceful, acceptable and honourable solution is arrived at without delay.
He said this was the right time, particularly when Prime Minister has been keen to solve the problem with mutual understanding involving all stakeholders. On the need for communal harmony amongst the various Naga tribes and communities, Zeliang appealed to all tribes, particularly those in Tuensang and Kiphire districts to maintain peace and harmony.
Highlighting the objectives of setting up town councils, Zeliang said it has been done to establish local self-governance in order to empower the people to take over development of their towns and to manage the same.
He also assured that whatever grants-in-aid were admissible/available, the government would continue to do so. He however stated that the Town Council would have to raise its own resources through various taxes/fees to carry out developmental activities.
On 33% reservation issue, Zeliang said: “Negotiation between the Naga Mothers’ Association and the Government is going on and I am hopeful that the matter will be resolved amicably very soon”.
Differences and conflicts should not arise between men and women, he said adding, “we should understand each other’s interests so that together we can work for the betterment of the people and the State”.
He felt it was imperative that all should change their mindset along with the changed times and realities of modern-day world.
“We may have domestic differences within the family, but we should peacefully resolve these differences without resorting to fights and litigations. No differences or problems are too big to be insurmountable by understanding, compassion and goodwill,” he said.
As per Nagaland Municipal Act, 2001, Town Councils can be set up in towns where population is between 5,000 and 20,000.
The media cell stated that as per to 2011 Census, Noklak, the headquarters of the Khiamniungam Naga tribe has a population of 7,674 located in a strategic area close to the International boundaries of Myanmar.
Tuesday, September 22, 2026