State government should facilitate, not negotiate, the ‘unity feeling’

 

Kohima | October 29 : Dr. Chumben Murry, Nagaland Minister of Agriculture, expressed hope that the Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) government would be voted to power in the next general elections and that the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) would fare well.
Speaking at the first NCP state-level convention programme at LCS building in the Nagaland capital, Dr. Murry, who is also state NCP president, said that his party is comfortable in the DAN coalition and added that the NCP should not be overambitious but mark its presence. Appreciating Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio for being a visionary leader, Dr. Murry said that with the changing times, elected representatives have bigger responsibilities and Rio, as Chief Minister, has the capability to lead the Nagas.
Talking about the initiatives of the DAN government in the Naga political issue and pointing out that certain things take time to build momentum, the Agriculture Minister mentioned the setting of the Political Affairs Committee (PAC), the overseas Naga convention resulting in the Common Naga Platform. Lauding the Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR) for bringing the Naga factions together, he said they have done a ‘tremendous job’ especially with reference to Nagaland, which is a Christian state.
Dr. Murry emphasised that unity does not include “undergrounds” alone, but “unity should encompass the over-ground section too” and that is the reason the Common Naga Platform came into being where feelings of the Nagas can be voiced. He categorically stated that the NCP stands by Rio and supports the efforts of the government for peace and unity. He, however, noted that solution cannot come about with the efforts of certain sections only but should be a collective endeavour, and hoped that the state government would facilitate, not negotiate, the ‘unity feeling’.
S Pangyuh Phom, Parliamentary Secretary for RD&REPA, said that Naga politicians are emotional as many keep changing parties and join new national parties without proper study. He urged party workers to revive and rededicate themselves and said that the NCP is fortunate to have a CM who understands Nagas’ problems and has good relation with the central NCP leadership.
Stating that the NCP expects more than 10 seats in the next tenure, Phom called upon its workers to have self-confidence, saying with it nothing is impossible. Commending his party workers, he called them the ‘unsung heroes’, and said that with the self-confidence, they should do something for the Nagas. He urged the members present to be aware of the global climate changes and to spread the message of preservation of forests and natural resources.
Neiba Ndang, former Nagaland Speaker and secretary general of NECC, NCP, said that the NCP, though a nationalist party, has the liberty and right to decide for itself unlike the Congress party (in which he served for 3 decades), which has to take the decision of the party high command in the centre, even for small internal matters besides distribution of tickets, portfolios, etc. He said that the slogan of the NCP – peace, progress and prosperity – should stand them in good stead in winning the future election in 2013.