Nagaland Governor, RN Ravi being received by the Village Guards of Tuensang Village on the 2nd day of his maiden visit to Tuensang. He attended the ENPO's Peace And Unity Foundation Day on December 18. (DIPR Photo)
Demand for separate State ‘natural expression of the desire,’ observes Nagaland Governor
Morung Express News
Tuensang | December 18
Nagaland Governor RN Ravi on Wednesday admitted that Eastern Nagaland has a lot of grievances which are genuine- starting with the huge development deficit as compared to other districts in the state.
“There is huge development deficit compared to the rest of districts in Nagaland, things are worst here,” Ravi stated while addressing the Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organization’s (ENPO) Peace and Unity Foundation Day as a special guest at the Public Ground, Tuensang on December 18.
Expressing concern over the lack of good educational institutions, public health facility and connectivity, Ravi, who was on his maiden visit to Tuensang said, “Even after 55 years of Statehood and 7 decades of India Independence, it pains me to see near absence of connectivity in Eastern Nagaland.”
He observed that with this sense of acute deprivation, it has led to a “natural expression of the desire that people of Eastern Nagaland must have its own separate State and shape their destiny accordingly.”
Ravi, who is also Interlocutor to the Indo-Naga Peace Talks, said ENPO has been pursuing the demand for separate Statehood with the Government of India and with the Ministry of Home Affairs where several rounds of talks have been held already.
He expressed confidence that the peaceful process of dialogue and democratic process would led to its logical conclusion.
Ravi remarked that if Eastern Nagaland has to meet its destiny and has to grow, the most important thing should be the development of its human resource.
“This is a beautiful land and home to one of the finest human being in the country,” he said adding: “You may be behind modernity, but not behind civilization. You are the inheritors of hundreds of years of rich cultural civilization of history.”
Calling on the people of ENPO to maintain peace and unity, he said that so long as people under the organisation are united, voice of Eastern Nagaland cannot be ignored.
‘But if divided naturally it will have adverse consequence,’ he added.
Recalling the contribution made by the leaders of Eastern Nagaland in the creation of the State, Ravi said their contributions are not less than anybody else.
He acknowledged the leaders of the Naga People Convention from Eastern Nagaland for their ultimate sacrifice as they peacefully negotiated with GoI and got not only a State, but Article 371 (A) as well.
“Article 371(A) is a unique right given to the people of Nagaland which is the envy of all other states of Indian Union,” the Governor asserted.
Appreciating ENPO for organizing the day, Ravi stated that 12 years back when the bloodshed was at its peak, it was the people of Eastern Nagaland, who in one voice declared the region as ‘peace zone.’
Will not tolerate any parallel government
Touching on the Indo-Naga Political issue, Ravi said the “Naga political issue has become a joke with people talking about it as if a mere piece of paper has been signed and at the same time many people were making a business out of talking it.”
Also pointing out that there are so many parallel governments running the state, Ravi said there would be only one government which is the Government of Nagaland.
He said any other government running the show will not be tolerated and he has instructed the security forces to drive them out. “They should go to their camps, there will not be any town command,” he added.
Earlier, ENPO president Kekongchim in his key note address said Eastern Nagaland and its people have been overshadowed by the worst unpliable road condition, unsustainable economy and deficiency of human resources development. “Therefore, we feel our demand for 'Frontier Nagaland' is warranted.”
Minister for Health & Family Welfare, Pangnyu Phom spoke on behalf of the Eastern Nagaland Legislature Union. A short address on behalf of the six tribal presidents under ENPO was delivered by L Ngon, Khiamniungan Tribal Council (KTC) president. Eastern Naga Students’ Federation (ENSF) president also spoke on the occasion.
