CMs of Nagaland, Manipur & Arunachal call for co-existence

Chizokho Vero
Kisama | December 5  

The Chief Ministers of three North East states—TR Zeliang of Nagaland, N Biren Singh of Manipur and Pema Khandu of Arunachal Pradesh today came together at the Hornbill Festival of Nagaland here and called for co-existence as friendly neighbors.  

Nagaland Chief Minister,TR Zeliang believed that through the presence of two other CMs as chief guest and guest of honour respectively on day 5 of the Hornbill festival including Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal (not present), “together we can co-exist as friendly neighbours because peace alone can take us to progress and development of our region.”  

Referring to the Tourism Circuit for NE states, Zeliang said the proposal of dove-tailing the various festivals in the different NE states like the Tawang festival of Arunachal Pradesh which precedes Sangai festival of Manipur, followed by Hornbill Festival of Nagaland, can afford tourists from different parts of the world the opportunity to undertake a NE oddesey at one go and at a much lesser cost.  

Stating that the NE states have similarities in culture, traditions, lifestyles or look, he said “We need to have a common development strategy in sync with the fasting changing times.”  

On the Act East Policy, he said Nagaland along with sister NE states can now look forward to a much faster pace of progress in various fronts.  

“Our geographical isolation may also soon become a thing of past as our region would rapidly emerge as the gateway between the ASEAN countries and mainland India,” he added.  

Biren Singh call for ‘people-to-people’ interactions

Manipur CM, Biren Singh said there is so much that connects two states (Manipur and Nagaland) and its people. “Based on our shared history and close cultural affinities, we must build the foundations upon which the people and institutions of our states can collaborate and cooperate with a strong sense of common purpose,” he said.  

He also stressed that there is a need for extensive and meaningful “people-to-people” interactions and between institutions for collaboration and partnership in the area of entrepreneurship, skill development, commerce, arts, culture, films and theatre.  

He said there are many untapped opportunities which Manipur and Nagaland as neighbors should jointly leverage to unlock the full potential of the two states and fulfill the aspirations of the people.  

Singh added that for the NE region in general, synergetic and coordinated vision and relationships will be critical in realizing the benefits of Act East Policy of India.  

NE states have huge potential: Khandu

“Through this Hornbill festival, it has not only giving exposure to Nagaland but it is giving exposure to the entire North East India,” said Arunachal Chief Minister Pema Kandhu and thanked the Nagaland government.  

He said Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh have many things in common in terms of tribal, language and political diversity.  

He maintained that the NE states have huge potential and tremendous talent which needs to be tapped and exposed to other parts of the world.  

Khandu urged the young generation that the age old culture and tradition which has been preserved by the elders need to be taken forward.  

11,893 visitors to Hornbill on Day 5

The fifth day of Hornbill Festival at the Naga Heritage Village Kisama registered 11, 893 visitors. Out of this, 245 were foreign, 3627 domestic tourists and 8021 local visitors from Nagaland, according to tourist officer Toka E. Tuccumi, statistical-in-charge.  

With this, the number of visitors to Hornbill festival at Kisama in 5th day has gone upto 96, 498.