‘Show the way to move forward over Peace Accord’
Nagaland chief minister has urged upon the Ao Senden to show the way to move forward over the Naga Peace Accord signed between the government of India and the NSCN (I-M) since Prime Minister Narendra Modi was committed to solving the protracted Naga political problem.
According to CMO media cell, the chief minister said this while talking with the leaders of the Ao Senden in Mokokchung Thursday enroute to Chuchuyimlang where Union Minister for Human Resource Development (HRD), Smirti Irani would be inaugurating the Mahatma Gandhi Academy of Human Development on Friday.
Zeliang said that it was also not a time to criticize or find fault with each other on the Accord but a time to give their views and opinions on how solution should be brought about.
Referring to the Dubai declaration wherein prime minster Modi had reiterated his determination to solve the Naga problem through peaceful negotiations, Zeliang added that it was time for Nagas to speak what was on their minds and how the political solution should be shaped.
T.R. Zeliang also said the present situation offered the best opportunity for solution since the incumbent Interlocutor for Naga talks R.N. Ravi enjoyed a better relationship with the prime minister than other previous interlocutors–K. Padmanabhaiah or R.S. Pandey- with previous Prime Ministers.
Before the final agreement of the Accord was finalized, he said Nagas should tell both the Government of India and NSCN (I-M) on the kind of solution they wanted, instead of criticizing it otherwise “it will be too late”.
He opined, that if the Naga problem was not solved soon, then it would only result in more underground factions springing up since “youths are liable to go astray if the present trend continues”.
On Gaidinliu issue
On the Rani Gaidinliu controversy, the chief minister said the government of India was honouring her with construction of the memorial library-cum-museum in Kohima.
The chief minister said Gaidinliu was being honoured as a freedom fighter which did not mean that Heraka or Hinduism was being promoted.
Zeliang said that irrespective of what was being said , the facts of history cannot be changed as Gaidinliu had played a role against the British and spent 14 years in British jails in several parts of north east till she was released after independence and came overground in 1966.
After she came overground, Gaidinliu was given perks and privileges befitting the rank of a minster of state. He also said the construction of the Gaidinliu library-cum-museum was done in 2010 by his predecessor and it would be wrong to blame him for it just because he belonged to the same community as Gaidinliu.
He also said organisations like Ao Senden should first understand the background or history of any issue and comment. “Otherwise, commenting blindly may not be wise. It could prove embarrassing at times when the truth unfolds”, Zeliang added.
Ao Senden appeals
The Ao Senden led by its president Imolemba Ao urged upon the chief minister to ensure that the Tuli paper mill began functioning at the earliest and expressed concern over the 1% deduction made on Rs.489 crore by the Hindustan Pulp & Paper Mill. The Senden also said that out of Rs.100 crore sanctioned for revival only Rs.40 crore was utilized and remaining Rs.60 crore still unutilized.
The Senden also requested the chief minister to upgrade the 150-bedded Imkongliba Memorial Hospital (IMH) to 200 bedded as it was a crying need not only for Mokokchung but also of Longleng, Tuensang and Mon districts.
In response, the chief minister agreed to put the proposals in the additional priority of the state government under Non- Lapsable Central Pool of Resources (NLCPR).