Morung Express news
Kohima | November 28
Kevipodi Sophie, President of the Southern Angami Public Organization (SAPO) today appealed for the intervention of the Nagaland State Government over the involvement of the Manipur Government under the patronage of the Mao Council in the Kezoltsa issue and the concerns over National Highway 29.
He made this appeal in the presence of UDA Chairman and former Chief Minister of Nagaland, TR Zeliang and other Ministers who were attending the inauguration programme of the Rhododendron Park in Jakhama.
Briefing on the Kezoltsa issue, the SAPO President said that Kezoltsa and Dzükou were ancestral land of the Southern Angamis and said that any other party cannot claim ownership over arbitrarily drawn interstate boundary.
Citing an instance, he mentioned that the Manipur Government had been organising yearly events by the name, Cherry Blossom Festival in an area between TB Hospital, Nagaland and Mao Gate, Iko Ikhro.
Looking at that interstate boundary, Sophie pointed that it fell under the state of Nagaland.
"However, we acknowledge the land ownership and don't interfere at any point of time."
On the contrary, he claimed that the "Manipur government under the patronage of Mao Council had been actively involved in development of the so called 'disputed area' that is Kezoltsa violating all arbitrary undertaking by the three communities of Mao, Maram and Southern Angamis."
Stating that the Southern Angamis have taken the matter with the Government of Nagaland and the Chief Minister during several occasions, he pressed the State Government to brief the Manipur Government.
"And until the case is resolved the Manipur Government should be asked to stop all activities within the so called 'disputed area'," he added. In this regard, Sophie said the interstate boundary may lie in Manipur but the land belonged to Southern Angamis which at all costs will not surrender the forefathers’ lands.
"Unless it is stopped, one day or the other, the problem will come and only then when any action is taken by the Southern Angami people, the time will be too late to avert the situation," Sophie cautioned.
Calls for better roads
He further lamented that the road in the region lies in a deplorable and neglected state. Sophie stated that the public were earlier told that a four-lane road had been approved by the Government of India; however this was changed to the approval of a two lane road.
Asserting that the NH-29 was one of the oldest National Highways in Nagaland and as per the government’s Act East Policy, the road is supposed to connect the Asian Countries of Myanmar, Singapore and so on, he felt that today the road was not only being neglected and but the people "have been sidelined."
He requested the Nagaland officials to pursue this issue with the Government of India and give a lending hand so that the aspirations of the people are fulfilled.
