DIMAPUR, OCTOBER 7 (MExN): Senior IAS officer Alemtemshi Jamir, Agriculture Production Commissioner & Principal Secretary whose name has been in the news over the NSCN (IM) terming him as ‘anti people’ and ‘anti-national’ has publicly issued a statement for the first time since the controversy broke out over the booklet ‘Bedrock of Naga Society’ which the NSCN (IM) alleged was co-authored by Alemtemshi along with former Chief Minister SC Jamir, now Goa Governor. In a written statement made available to the press, Alemtemshi while expressing surprise to find his name dragged into the controversy nevertheless stated that he was “deeply indebted and grateful to all the communities, organizations, individuals and colleagues” who extended “spontaneous support” in his predicament of being declared ‘anti people’ and ‘anti national’.
“The support that has been extended encourages me to continue and work for the people of Nagaland and the present controversy will not discourage me for loving the Naga people less not contribute my little for our common good till such time that God gives me the strength and the opportunity”, the IAS officer stated while informing that he was attending the Northeast Investment Meet in New York at the time when the allegations were leveled against him. “As it appears to have become a matter of public concern, it is deemed necessary to issue this clarification”, he stated.
Pointing out that ever since the booklet was published, seven years ago, in 2000, “talks in various circles” about his “involvement in the drafting of the pamphlet” was doing the rounds. “But I have refrained from any clarification as it is not the business of a bureaucrat to enter into political controversies or to issue clarifications since the records and the facts would speak for themselves”, the IAS officer stated while adding that the present clarification was however “necessitated” and that he would like to set the facts clear once and for all.
While informing about his working in the office of the Chief Minister as Special Secretary and later as Principal Secretary from 1994 to 2003 when SC Jamir was the Chief Minister, Alemtemshi recalled that this was one of the “darkest period of the history of Nagaland when violence was at its height with rampant and senseless bloodshed amongst the Nagas” and that in such a situation, there were very few officers (both local and non local) willing to work in such a posting—“with all kinds of tensions, including the threat to life”.
Making the point that as a government servant with no choice for postings, he had tried to work sincerely and to hold together the systems within the government, “that, at many a time seemed to be breaking down”. “Under such circumstances there is bound to be confusions in the minds of the people concerning the roles of the bureaucrats in the Chief Minister’s Secretariat and that my be one of the reasons why my name has emerged in the present controversy and this needs to be explained”, Alemtemshi stated.
Pointing to the working of the Chief Minister’s Secretariat, the IAS officer stated that this “may be confusing for the common man”. “The Chief Minister, being both a political leader as also the head of the Executive, the works in the Secretariat involve many official matters having political overtones”, Alemtemshi stated while however making it clear that the bureaucracy in the Chief Minister’s Secretariat “is clear and its jurisdiction does not extend into ‘party matters’ of the ‘party office’”.
The IAS officer made it clear that the booklet ‘Bedrock of Naga Society’ was purely a Congress party document and that neither he himself as the then Special Secretary nor any other bureaucrat nor the staff in the Chief Minister’s Secretariat were involved in the drafting or in ‘co-authoring’ as was alleged. “This clarification is also being given so that the public will have no misconception regarding the officers who work I the Chief Minister’s Secretariat—past, present or in the future. “We should therefore, not be dragged into political controversies”, the IAS officer stated.
On a more personal note, Alemtemshi pointed out that the present controversy raised another important issue for consideration by the Naga people and that he was compelled to comment on it as it was dear to his heart—the issues of freedom of thought, expression, faith and belief. “They are intrinsic to the Naga way of life, culturally and traditionally. It is also vital for the survival of the future Naga society that we all dream about”, he stated adding that whether it was an “independent Nagalim” or a “dynamic futuristic modern people”, without a “design for a democratic society with ample space for opinions and dissent, our multi tribal society would perish”.
As such, the IAS officer pointed out that the present trends of ostracizing people who have their points of view is not in the right direction for our society, stating the case of Dr Shishak, Niketu Iralu, Chrales Chasie, Dr SC Jamir and himself. “Without that basic ingredients of rights and freedoms, the independence that we, the Nagas, have been talking, for all these years would be made meaningless”, Alemtemshi stated further adding that the courage and conviction by which various statements have been made in his support was “adding to the maturing process of the Naga society, especially in building up the democratic process which is the cornerstone of the Naga society”. “I can only pray to God that He may bless you all abundantly in your understanding and deep insights”, Alemtemshi stated while expressing his indebtedness to those who had come out to support him in the period of his ‘predicament’.
