Odisha’s Governor designate Dr. S. C. Jamir being presented a bouquet of flowers by a young girl during a felicitation programme at the Congress Bhavan in Kohima on March 12. The felicitation programme was organized by the Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee. (Morung Photo)
Chizokho Vero
Kohima | March 12
Governor designate of Odisha Dr. S.C. Jamir today stated that a final settlement to the Naga political problem will be a far cry “without people’s knowledge and consent”.
Nonetheless, he acknowledged that the Naga political problem has become a buzz word for every Naga. “The Nagas have been talking about this for the last 60 years as if this is the only agenda for them.”
“This obsession had stonewalled important aspects such as economic development, social development, human resources development, cultural development and others that are essential for the development of human society,” Jamir told Congress workers at a felicitation program here at the Congress Bhavan organized by Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (I) in honour of his new assignment as Governor of Odisha.
Jamir said that after more than 60 years of the Naga political struggle, Nagas have landed in a situation where they can neither go forward nor retract to a reasonably safe place.
“Those people who are supposed to be engaged in the political struggle for the Naga cause appear to be in the political wilderness without the pillar of cloud and the pillar of fire to guide them. It is an admitted fact that the so called Naga issue is in a terrible mess,” Jamir said adding that it will continue to be so until the people are given opportunity to express their views and opinions on the kind of political arrangement that would be honorable. Without people’s knowledge and consent, final political settlement will be a far cry, he affirmed.
Dwelling on the breakdown of governance in Nagaland, he said the elected government is not allowed to function according to the Constitution and the Rule of Law by both “seen and unseen” forces that “hold the keys”. “These diabolical forces acquired their power and strength through clever and calculated exploitation of the whole game of election,” he said.
“These forces” made the elected government subservient to them, he said adding that the government of Nagaland is being run through remote control and the elected government is made to play only second fiddle. He said that unless the entire system is completely changed and brought to even keel, any party in power will face the same fate.
On the debacle of the Congress party in the just concluded Nagaland Assembly elections, Jamir, who has led Congress party to power and been the Chief Minister for five times in Nagaland, said the Congress had run the affairs of the state for several years in the past without any hindrance from any anti-social and anti-national elements.
There was no dilution in its declared policy and ideology and the identity and face of Congress were transparent, he said. “We remained true to our ideology and policy… we have never sacrificed nor compromised on the basic principle of the party,” he said, adding it was because of this clear attribute that the party was always seen as the best alternative to run the affairs of the state.
Nevertheless, the veteran Congress leader admitted that over the years, due to pressing circumstances or prompted by opportunism, the party strayed from its basic policy and ideology. Jamir pointed out that “We made ourselves politically naked and in this way the beauty of the party was disfigured. This, according to me, is one of the causes that have damaged the image of the party.”
Ex-MLA Lanpha Konyak, Mahila Congress president N. Lucy, chief organizer of Seva Dal G. K. Rengma while conveying best wishes on behalf of the Congress for his future endeavors expressed hope that the veteran leader will continue to look back towards uplifting the Party in Nagaland.
