Nagaland chief minister T.R. Zeliang has reacted to the purported filing of FIR under Sections 124 (A) and 153 (A) of the Indian Penal Code against him by Ibomcha Singh, MLA of Manipur, in connection with his speech at the Lui Ngai Li Festival in Ukhrul on February 14, 2016.
A statement from media cell, CMO Nagaland, said at that festival the chief minister had underlined the need for Nagas to be united and expressed his opinion that emotional and cultural integration should be evolved amongst Nagas living under various administrative set ups. And once this is achieved, he said Nagas could help each other for cultural and socio-economic advancement, with or without territorial or political integration.
CMO media cell pointed out that the issue of integration of contiguous Naga-inhabited areas under one administrative umbrella was as old as Nagaland statehood with the matter being mentioned as one of the points in the 16-point Agreement between the Government of India and the Naga People’s Convention in 1960. Moreover, CMO said the Nagaland Legislative Assembly had passed resolutions in the House five times (on December 12, 1964, August 28, 1970, September 16, 1994, December 18, 2003 and July 28, 2015) supporting or reiterating the wishes of the people of Nagaland for territorial integration of the Naga-inhabited areas.
It said chief minister had also expressed reservations against Manipur chief minister for passing the three controversial bills in Manipur Assembly much against the wishes of the tribal populace of the State who continue to oppose tooth and nail the said Bills with four tribal MLAs even tendering their resignations from the Assembly.
Considering the fact that chief minister was a mass leader of the Nagas, CMO said the chief minister has to speak for the Naga people irrespective of administrative or geographical considerations.
“It is but natural for any Chief Minister of Nagaland to speak for Nagas when they are protesting on the streets against grievances, perceived or otherwise, whether it is in Manipur, New Delhi or Myanmar,” maintained the CMO statement. Further, media cell said it was most natural that Nagaland chief minister should be concerned when many Naga protestors were killed and hundreds injured, properties damaged and their lives threatened, as was the case in Manipur in the latter part of last year.
“If a person, be it a Chief Minister or a mere leader, is not permitted to speak freely in a democratic country such as ours, it is indeed, a sad day for democracy and portends gloom in the days to come for the general public,” lamented the statement and questioned if it was “permitted only to appreciate the Manipur Government for looking after our people, but not allowed to speak up when injustice is being done to our people?”
Pointing out that Sections 124A and 154A of the IPC have to do with attempts to create hatred against the Government, and attempts to bring enmity against various groups of people, the CMO statement said the very actions of the government of Manipur in passing the three infamous Bills in the Assembly and the subsequent actions of its law-enforcing agencies in tackling the protestors, which led to the death of nine and injuries to scores of people, could very well be brought under the purview of the above-mentioned Sections of the IPC.
Accusing the Manipur government of segregating, isolating and alienating a section of the citizens, the statement cautioned that the “resultant enmity and hatred brought about would be very difficult to erase.” “It would seem political interests of the Government of the day have been given preference over communal harmony and peaceful coexistence in the State,” stated CMO statement.
While underlining that the laws of the land would take its own course, the CMO said it was however the sincere wish and appeal of the chief minister Nagaland that good neighbourly relations were maintained between the two States and that different communities in both states live in peace and harmony for all ages to come.
Tuesday, May 5, 2026