Resolving Naga political issue my life’s mission: Ravi
Centre’s Interlocutor for Naga peace talks and former deputy NSA, RN Ravi was sworn in as the 19th governor of Nagaland at Durbar Hall, Raj Bhavan here on Thursday.
Gauhati High Court Chief Justice (Acting) Arup Kumar Goswami administered the oath of office and secrecy to the new governor after chief secretary Temjen Toy read out the warrant of appointment from the President of India.
The swearing-in ceremony was attended by chief minister Neiphiu Rio and his wife, former chief minister and former governor Dr. SC Jamir, NLA speaker Vikho-o Yhoshu, deputy chief minister Y Patton, opposition leader T.R. Zeliang, Rajya Sabha member KG Kenye, cabinet ministers, advisers, NPF legislators, heads of departments, governor’s wife and his family members and other dignitaries.
After the oath-taking ceremony, Ravi reviewed the guard of honour by Nagaland Police at the Raj Bhavan courtyard. This was followed by a reception at Banquet Hall, Raj Bhavan.
Newly sworn-in Governor of Nagaland RN Ravi said he would endeavour to help resolve the Naga issue with utmost honour and dignity for the Naga people since it was at the heart of prime minister Narendra Modi.
Ravi said this after his swearing-in the Durbar Hall of Raj Bhavan Thursday .
He said Prime Minister Modi, on whom countrymen had reposed their trust with an unprecedented mandate, was determined to bring a solution to the protracted issue.
Ravi said his mission could be achieved only if Nagas stood with him for bringing about a long-lasting peace.
Ravi said that it was due to God’s programme that he came to meet with Nagas some three decades back and since then he had been maintaining close relationship that had grown ever deeper.
The newly sworn-in governor admitted that he emotionally touched by the abundant love and affection and trust reposed upon him by the Naga people.
He said he would take up his new assignment as a God’s wish and commandment to serve the Nagas to the best of his ability.
Ravi in his speech also focussed on creating an ecosystem of optimum opportunities for the youth to help them overcome development differentials with the most advanced States of the country.
He appealed to the people of Nagaland, especially the youth, to awake, arise and set the momentum of a resurgent Nagaland, “a Nagaland that becomes a model for other States of the Indian Union to emulate”.
Towards this end, he underlined the need for equal partnership of mothers and daughters as women too deserved better attention in terms of health, education and entrepreneurship urgently.
Ravi shared how his interactions with Nagas during the past five years as Interlocutor had given him a desire to fulfil the mission and expressed happiness that the quest for solution had not met with any opposition.
Welcoming Ravi and his family to Nagaland, chief minister Neiphiu Rio in his speech recalled that as the interlocutor of the Naga peace process, Ravi had been at the core of the negotiations , besides being the driving force behind the August 3, 2015 Framework Agreement signed by New Delhi with NSCN (I-M) in the presence of Modi.
Rio said he personally knew Ravi for the past few years and found him as a fine gentleman, “polite, humble and compassionate”, adding this quality had helped him win over the trust and confidence of all sections of Nagas.
Rio said the Nagas were looking forward to the governorship of Ravi with high hopes and expectations and added that people in all Naga-inhabited areas were yearning for peace.
Rio reminded that generations have been impacted by the political movement and after decades all sections including conflicting parties have realised that the only option was to sit across the table and bring solution with respect and honour .
He said resolution of the “Indo-Naga conflict”would not only bring to an end one of the longest political movements in the entire region and also the “mother of all insurgencies”.
Rio said the “Indo-Naga peace process” was also at the top of the agenda of the PDA coalition and assured the governor of full cooperation and support for achieving lasting peace. He hoped that Ravi’s arrival in Nagaland would pave the way for a breakthrough that Nagas had all along been hoping for in resolving the Naga political issue.
He appreciated Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) speaker Vikho-o Yhoshu for reconstituting Joint Legislators’ Forum (JLF) on Naga political issue and the opposition led by leader of opposition (LoP) TR Zeliang for participating and contributing in the deliberations and activities of JLF.
In his speech Leader of the opposition NPF, T.R. Zeliang also welcomed the newly sworn-in governor and remarked that Nagaland was fortunate to have Ravi as governor as his name and identity have become synonymous with the “Indo-Naga political issue”.
He commented that under Ravi as interlocutor, the Framework Agreement was signed after over 80 rounds of peace talks spanning several years. He said Ravi’s role and contribution in solving the Indo-Naga political issue, signing the Framework Agreement and the deal reached with seven NNPGs would go down in the annals of history as landmark achievement.
The LoP exuded confidence that the appointment of Ravi as governor of Nagaland would facilitate and speedup the ongoing peace process. He warned that that if a final solution was not arrived at during the tenure of Ravi, who understood the pulse of Naga people, the peace process would be back to square one.
Hoping that the ongoing dialogues mediated by Ravi would reach their logical conclusion sooner than later, Zeliang reiterated that it was the desire of NPF in particular and Naga people in general that a final settlement to the protracted Indo-Naga issue should be hammered out at the earliest.
Stating that all members of NLA, regardless of their political party affiliations, were unanimous in their view that the decades-old issue should be resolve, he said this was manifestwith Assembly resolutions unanimously adopted in the House in the past.
He assured that NPF would extend its fullest cooperation in this regard and ever-ready to extend its contribution wherever needed. Earlier, deputy chief minister Y Patton delivered a welcome address.
Tokheho, UNTABA, NPP fete Ravi
MP LokSabhaTokhehoYepthomi, United Naga Tribes Association on Border Areas (UNTABA) and National People’s Party (NPP) Nagaland state unit have congratulated RN Ravi on his swearing-in as the Governor of Nagaland.
In a statement, Tokheho asserted that people of Nagaland were fortunate that for the first time in decades old political negotiations the State Governor will also be the Interlocutor for Naga political negotiations. With governor now at the helm of the “Indo-Naga” political negotiations, he said Nagas were hopeful that the long overdue political issues would soon be settled.
The MP also said that Ravi’s vast experience would be an asset for the people of Nagaland as he embark to discharge his duties as the Governor of Nagaland.
UNTABA: UNTABA appreciated the Government of India for appointing Ravi as the Governor of Nagaland as he has learnt the historical intricacies of the “Indo-Naga political imbroglio” in the last few years as an Interlocutor.
UNTABA chairman Hukavi T Yeputhomi and general secretary ImsumongbaPongen extended best of wishes to Ravi on his assumption as the head of the Government of Nagaland.
UNTABA also placed on record that Ravi’s assumption should never be an obstacle in bringing about logical conclusion to the ongoing “Indo-Naga” peace negotiations as expected by all Nagas including the stakeholders.
NPP State unit: NPP state unit expressed the hope that Ravi would be able to work for the larger interest of the state and its people with his experience and expertise in various capacities.
NPP state unit also hoped that “a sincere solution will be made on the Naga issue at the earliest”. It also wished him the very best for all his endeavors as a governor.
Meanwhile, NPP State unit also conveyed gratitude to PB Acharya, outgoing governor of Nagaland, for successfully completing his tenure and serving the state.